Curbing defence imports

Protection should not compromise quality

For almost three years now, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been promoting aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in acquiring military equipment by placing incremental curbs on importing specified weapons and defence kits. In December 2020, the MoD first instituted curbs on importing line replacement units (LRUs), sub-systems, assemblies, and spares and components of specified defence systems. From the end of that year, 69 types of equipment could no longer be imported. In March 2022, additional equipment types came under the import ban, and the curbs on import were further expanded in August 2022. These lists were given a gloss of positivity by