SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy’s commitment to indigenisation and innovation has made notable strides, with more than 250 ongoing projects focused on indigenous design and development. This institutional effort addresses key challenges in India’s defense supply chains, strengthening the Navy’s resilience amid global supply chain disruptions.
According to sources quoted by The New Indian Express, the Navy currently has 262 projects at various stages of staff evaluation, with 171 projects already contracted under the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. This initiative, launched in 2018 by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, aims to promote collaboration between the armed forces and innovators, including startups, to develop cutting-edge solutions tailored to modern military requirements.
The recently concluded DefConnect 4.0 event showcased the Navy’s growing emphasis on collaboration and innovation. During the event, the Navy committed ?132.5 crore toward furthering its innovation projects through a single launch of problem statements. This financial injection underscores the Navy’s proactive approach to solving operational and technological challenges by inviting solutions from a broad ecosystem of entrepreneurs, startups, and tech developers.
Major equipment projects are also being pursued through 97 ongoing projects under the Technology Development Fund (TDF), ‘Make,’ and Revenue routes, with a combined budget allocation of approximately ?850 crore. The TDF scheme, a flagship of the Ministry of Defence managed by the DRDO, is a vital part of the Make in India initiative, encouraging domestic development and manufacturing capabilities to fortify the nation’s defense sector.
The iDEX platform plays a pivotal role in fostering a thriving defense tech ecosystem. By bringing together the armed forces, startups, and industry leaders, the platform is nurturing innovation in defense and aerospace sectors, helping the Indian military modernize with advanced technological solutions. The annual DefConnect event further solidifies these connections, encouraging participation from varied stakeholders who contribute to developing practical and mission-ready technologies.