India has found indigenous suppliers for 150 of the total 175 types of ammunition.
- Currently, only 5 to 10 per cent of the ammunition requirement is being met from imports.
Reasons for boost in Indigenous supply
- Five positive indigenisation lists: Positive indigenisation lists are lists of items released by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) that India can make domestically and will not be imported.
- Corporatisation of Indian Ordnance Factories: In 2021, the Government converted the production units of the Ordnance Factory Board into 07 Defence Public Sector Undertakings to enhance functional autonomy and efficiency.
- Private player participation: Adani Group has recently unveiled India's first private sector ammunition-missile manufacturing complex in Uttar Pradesh.
Significance for Defence Indigenisation
- Strategic autonomy: Achieving self-reliance in defence and reducing import dependency for military hardware is important for India to maintain its strategic autonomy.
- Export potential: Ramping up ammunition production also helps to position India as a reliable supplier in the international market.
- Prevention from disruption of the supply chain.
- More cost-effective than importing equipment.
- It will boost tech innovation.