ICC Defence Summit in Vizag Spotlights India's Thriving Defence and Autonomous Systems Industry
The ICC Defence Start-up and Autonomous Systems Summit, held in Visakhapatnam on Monday, brought into sharp focus India's rapidly expanding defence, aerospace, and autonomous systems sector. This significant event underscored the nation's commitment to enhancing self-reliance in defence manufacturing through indigenous innovation and technological advancement.
Showcasing Cutting-Edge Solutions for National Security
Over 50 start-ups participated in the summit, presenting a wide array of advanced solutions designed to strengthen India's defence capabilities. The exhibits included:
- Autonomous drones tailored for surveillance and tactical operations, offering enhanced precision and efficiency in military scenarios.
- Intelligence-gathering technologies that provide real-time data and analytics for strategic decision-making.
- Electronic components and software solutions aimed at improving the performance and reliability of defence systems.
- Cybersecurity systems specifically developed to protect critical infrastructure from digital threats and vulnerabilities.
In the aerospace domain, innovators demonstrated indigenous components, sophisticated simulation tools, and next-generation propulsion technologies intended for military applications. These displays highlighted the sector's progress in reducing dependence on foreign imports and aligning with the Union government and Ministry of Defence's vision for indigenisation.
Fostering Collaboration and Policy Development
Dr Rajeev Singh, director general of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), emphasised the summit's role in promoting collaboration among key stakeholders. He outlined three primary objectives:
- Shaping policies to realise the Make in India initiative within the defence sector, ensuring a supportive regulatory environment.
- Identifying opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in niche high-tech areas, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Showcasing the growing defence start-up ecosystem to attract investment and partnerships.
The event featured notable dignitaries, including Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, who served as chief guest. Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, President of the Aeronautical Society of India and advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government, highlighted the state's pivotal role in enhancing national defence manufacturing capabilities.
Innovative Start-up Contributions
Several start-ups presented groundbreaking innovations at the summit, demonstrating the sector's dynamic potential. Key highlights included:
- Tsalla Aerospace showcased a GPS-independent autonomous drone, offering robust navigation without reliance on external signals.
- CoreIoT introduced smart antenna solutions designed to improve communication and data transmission in defence operations.
- Apollo Micro Systems displayed advanced torpedoes and avionic systems, contributing to naval and aerial defence technologies.
- Ainfinite presented a sovereign large language model (LLM) platform tailored for defence applications, enhancing data processing and security.
- SPM Instruments featured condition monitoring tools for predictive maintenance of military equipment.
- Saif Seas demonstrated the Hawk 1600+ autonomous survey craft, designed for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Cmde PR Hari (Retd.), chairman of the ICC National Expert Committee on Defence, Aerospace & Space and CMD of GRSE Ltd, spoke about leveraging micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups to modernise the defence sector. His insights underscored the importance of integrating emerging technologies into traditional defence frameworks to boost efficiency and innovation.
This summit marks a significant step forward in India's journey towards self-reliance in defence, highlighting the collaborative efforts between policymakers, armed forces, public sector undertakings, private industry, and start-ups to build a robust and indigenous defence ecosystem.
