Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 12 (HBTV): Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday announced that 85% of the army's acquisitions are now indigenous, marking a significant milestone in the country's push for self-reliance in defense production.

Speaking on the growing emphasis on self-sufficiency, he stated, ‘Eighty-five percent of the acquisition by the Indian Army is indigenous in nature. Since we have extensive revenue and capital requirements, including UAVs, counter-UAVs, and aviation, we are prioritizing these areas in a big way.’

The Indian Army is also focused on upgrading its existing equipment and platforms, with General Dwivedi highlighting the need for collaboration with Indian industry to achieve this goal.

‘We are also looking at ATGMs and MANPATS. These are immediate priorities for us. Regarding the upgradation of various equipment and platforms, we are seeking strong support from the Indian industry,’ he said.

One notable success in indigenous defense production is the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which has logged an impressive 40,000 hours of flying time over the past two years, with only one minor issue reported.

General Dwivedi reaffirmed that self-reliance remains the army’s top priority and that all future acquisitions will align with the ‘Made in India’ initiative.   

(ANI)