Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced embargo on import of 101 types of military equipment in an attempt to develop and promote indigenous weapons.
“The Ministry of Defence is now ready for a big push to Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. MoD will introduce import embargo on 101 items beyond given timeline to boost indigenisation of defence production. The embargo on imports is planned to be progressively implemented between 2020 to 2024,” Singh tweeted on August 9.
The Negative Imports List includes high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters and radars.
The list also includes, wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) with indicative import embargo date of December 2021, of which the Army is expected to contract almost 200 at an approximate cost of over Rs 5,000 crore.
Partial list of banned from import item include
High-tech weapons such as artillery guns
Assault rifles
Corvettes,
Sonar system
Transport aircraft
Light Combat Helicopters (LCH)
Various other essential items of defense services including radar
Armored Combat Vehicles (AFVs) with wheels
Submarines
Toad Artillery Guns
Short-range surface-to-air missiles
Cruise missiles
Electronic warfare
Next generation missile ship
Floating dock
Anti-submarine rocket launcher
Short range maritime reconnaissance aircraft
Light rocket launcher
Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher
Missile Destroyer
Rocket
Air-to-air missiles beyond the visibility range astra-mk1
Medium range guns
“More such equipment for import embargo would be identified progressively by the DMA in consultation with all stakeholders. A due note of this will also be made in the DAP to ensure that no item in the negative list is processed for import in the future,” the Indian defence minister added.