The Indian Army canceled ₹230 crore contracts for 400 drones due to alleged Chinese components. The order included 200 medium-altitude, 100 heavyweight, and 100 lightweight logistics drones for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. Chennai-based Dhaksha, which won an order for logistics drones, is one of the affected companies.
Since August 2024, contracts had been halted due to worries about Chinese manufacturing components. Investigations revealed drones contained Chinese electronic parts, possibly endangering national security. In both 2010 and 2015, DGMI cautioned against using Chinese hardware and software in defense systems.
In August 2024, on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir’s Rajouri sector, an Army unit lost control of a VTOL drone, which crossed into Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This led to reinforcing the ban on Chinese parts in military drones.
In response to recent events, the defense sector is implementing a rigorous process to avoid Chinese components in military drones and mitigate cybersecurity risks by scrutinizing for potential malicious codes that could compromise drone systems. The emphasis is on safeguarding these drones from potential adversarial intervention and electronic vulnerabilities, as highlighted by a source from The Times Of India.
The defense ministry’s department of defense production has urged industry bodies FICCI, CII, and Assocham to advise member companies against using Chinese components for drones. This is crucial as the armed forces are procuring various types of drones, including nano, mini, and larger UAVs, amidst military tensions with China.
More details in Times of India Site.
Sources News From Various Digital Platforms, Websites, Journalists, And Agencies.
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