Bengaluru: Aerospace and Defence electronics is a $72 billion industry in the country and could have a workforce of over 2 million in the next 10 to 12 years, according to the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).
The IESA, which represents the Indian Electronic System Design and Manufacturing industry, came out on Thursday with recommendations for a Defence Electronics and System Design Policy , which it has drawn up with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) and Roland Berger, a global strategy consulting firm with expertise in defence.
The event was held as part of DEFTRONICS 2016 , an annual aerospace and defence programme in the city.
Based on current aerospace, defense and internal security trends, the recommendations are expected to guide the Centre in formulating defense policies focusing on indigenous manufacture of aerospace and defence electronic products and software solutions.
While the IESA and NASSCOM were given the responsibility of drafting recommendations for the policy paper by the Ministry of Defence, Roland Berger was engaged to play an advisory role in the matter . All three bodies, the IESA, NAASCOM and Roland Berger,worked for 18 months to come out with the recommendations.
Dr. V. K. Saraswat, member, NITI Aayog and former chief scientific advisor to the Ministry of Defence and Director General, DRDO, who was the chief guest, spoke of the importance of building India’s strategic electronics ecosystem for greater self-reliance.
“India has the third largest Army, the fourth largest Air force and the seventh largest Navy in the world. We are the seventh largest A and D market globally. And, we are still dependent on imports to fulfil our defence needs.
Therefore, achieving self-reliance and reducing dependence on foreign countries for defence is a necessity today rather than a choice, both for strategic and economic reasons,” said M. N. Vidyashankar, president, IESA.
