Indian Navy-industry interaction held

Balanagar: In an unique meet, the industries in the city interacted face to face with officers from the Indian Navy at a 'Naval Aviation – Industry Interaction' organised at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Auditorium, Balanagar by the Naval Liaison office.

The event saw the participation of over 100 firms, the aim of the meet was to familiarise the industry with the naval organisation, procedures, policies and requirements. Aviation components required by the Naval Aviation wing were also displayed for the benefit of the visitors. The Navy officials, apart from answering questions from industrialists, also provided contact details of nodal officers at various units to take matters forward.

Rear Admiral VM Doss, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel), Integrated Headquarters Ministry of Defence (Navy), New Delhi, who presided, remarked “most Defence components' needs are being met by various foreign companies. Now, under government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Defence forces have eased the procedures for Indian industrialists to supply their products and the scope is huge. Once they start manufacturing and supplying components to the Defence forces, they will be able to export them also.

Sessions like this will boost the confidence of industrialist, to become suppliers to the Defence forces.” On the potential for supplying to Navy he added, in another 10 years, the number of warships and aircraft will increase leading to more requirement of components. “We have taken multiple steps towards indigenisation. A naval aviation indigenisation road map has also been prepared for next five-year to indigenise over 500 components (critical and non-critical)”, he said. The industry can be involved in upgradation, repair work or reverse engineering. There are nine PSUs, 39 ordinance factories, 52 R&D organisations to which the industries can supply.

Though the initial value is less, the industries can develop to become global suppliers FICCI Chairman (TS Council) Devendra Surana said, “ Hyderabad has a huge potential to supply various components to the Defence forces. Earlier there were more formalities to get the details of the components. We are glad to associate with Navy in conducting this session, the first of its kind. The interest shown by industrialists and the response from the Navy is very good.”

Regional Directors from both Regional Controller for Military Airworthiness (RCMA) and Directorate of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (ORDAQA) Hyderabad have attended and guided on aviation quality aspects to the industrial CEOs. The top brass of the Indian Navy and captains of the industry from Hyderabad region came together on a common platform to exchange ideas on realising the indigenisation needs of India’s future Navy towards meeting the government of India’s vision of ‘Make in India’.