India's efforts to strengthen private-sector participation in defence manufacturing and build greater self-reliance has received another boost as Maharashtra-based Sagar Defence Engineering Ltd received an industrial licence to manufacture surface and underwater vessels for military use.
The approval places the deep-tech start-up among a handful of private companies that are licensed to produce vessels for use by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
The licence allows Sagar Defence Engineering, subject to regulatory approvals and licence conditions, to undertake the design, manufacture and construction of specified naval defence platforms and associated systems, according to news agency PTI.
It also permits the company to carry out its integration, assembly and testing before supplying the systems.
The development marks another step in expanding the role of private industry in India's naval defence manufacturing ecosystem and building indigenous capabilities in an area traditionally critical to the armed forces.
The latest approval comes a few months after Sagar Defence Engineering was granted an industrial licence to manufacture arms, explosives and ammunition. While that approval covered specified arms, explosives and ammunition, the latest licence covers the separate category of surface and underwater vessels.
"It is a significant milestone," said Capt. Nikunj Parashar, founder and chairman of Sagar Defence Engineering.
"It will strengthen our ability to participate in specific strategic projects," he told PTI.
The company builds autonomous and unmanned marine and aerial systems for the defence and commercial sectors, along with other products. It has been involved in maritime and unmanned systems since its inception and has developed autonomous and unmanned platforms for defence and maritime applications.
The industrial licence could now allow Sagar Defence Engineering to expand its role in the naval defence sector.
