The Government has accelerated efforts to finalise the ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model, which would give a major boost to private sector participation in defence manufacturing.
Guidelines on the anvil
As part of the stepped up efforts, the Defence Ministry has scheduled consultations with the industry to get their feedback in the next couple of days.
The policy, which is part of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016, will set out guidelines on how major Indian private sector companies can tie up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers in critical military systems and platforms.
Officials said several consultations had been held over the last month. Arun Jaitley, after he took additional charge of the Defence Ministry, was briefed on it and he was keen to approve it at the earliest.
“It could unlock some of the big projects that are stalled, including the new line of submarines and single engine fighter aircraft. It should be out in the next two months,” a defence official told The Hindu .
An interaction between the defence ministry and industry representatives was scheduled for May 11. It would be attended by Mr. Jaitley and Defence Secretary G. Mohan Kumar. Major industry bodies and Indian private sector companies which would take the lead in the SP model had been invited. The final clearance would be accorded by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and the meetings had been slotted.
