Indian Army Approves 5 Make II Projects To Push ‘Atma-Nirbhar Bharat’

The Indian Army approved 5 special projects, including the drone kill system under ‘Atma-Nirbhar Bharat’ scheme, with  design, development & innovative solutions.

According to the Defence Ministry on Friday, the Army has accepted project sanction orders for five Make II programs, including a drone kill system and an infantry training armament simulator, advancing India’s goal of self-sufficiency.

According to the report, Make II programs are essentially industry-funded initiatives that involve design, development, and creative solutions from Indian suppliers for the creation of prototypes.

According to a statement from the ministry, “Indian Army is leading activities to offer encouragement to ‘Make Projects’ as the key drivers of infusion of specialty technology through indigenous development.”

The Indian Army has now authorized project sanctioning orders (PSOs) for 5 Make II projects, it added, providing a significant boost to the existing programs.

After a successful prototype development, an order assurance is granted, according to the statement.

According to the ministry, these projects with approved PSOs included 155 mm terminally guided munition (TGM), high frequency man-packaged software defined radio, drone kill system, infantry training weapon simulator (IWTS), and medium range precision kill system (MRPKS).

14 Developing Agencies have received PSOs for the development of a prototype of the High Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR) under the Make II scheme (DAs). 

Additionally, it stated that the Indian Army intended to purchase 300 HFSDRs following the successful completion of the prototype. 

The Indian Army has given PSO to 18 DAs for the purchase of 35 sets of drone kill systems through the Make II scheme, following the successful construction of a prototype, as part of measures to further support the local anti-drone ecosystem. The project is only open to MSMEs and startups, according to the announcement.

Four DAs have been given PSOs to create the prototype in preparation for the upcoming Make II procurement of 125 sets of IWTS. 

The Indian Army is the lead service on the IWTS, which is the first tri-service Make II project. 15 DAs have received PSOs for “Creating an MRPKS prototype as part of DAP 2020’s Make-II category. 

The IA will purchase 10 sets of MRPKS once this prototype has been developed successfully.