PM Modi inspects L&T's Armed Systems Complex in Surat, reviews key defence projects
Surat, June 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the Armed Systems Complex of Larsen & Toubro in Surat, Gujarat, where he reviewed the manufacturing of advanced defence equipment.
The visit coincided with World Environment Day, during which the Prime Minister also planted a sapling, sending a message of environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Upon his arrival at the state-of-the-art facility, the Prime Minister was briefed by senior L&T officials about the various indigenous defence systems being developed at the complex. The facility plays a pivotal role in India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-reliant India) initiative, specifically in the field of heavy engineering and armoured systems.
The visit comes at a time when the firm has been shortlisted as a potential bidder for the Request for Proposal (RFP) of India's mega indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.
On May 27, the Defence Ministry issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) to the three shortlisted bidders, including Larsen and Toubro-Bharat Electronics Limited, Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge-BEML, Defence officials stated.
India is looking towards enhancing its indigenous defence capabilities, and last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will execute the programme through an industry partnership.
The Execution Model approach provided equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis.
On May 15, this year, Union Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stones for the Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi to fast-track the development of Fifth-Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and other future indigenous platforms.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, India is moving beyond being just a buyer of defence equipment. The fact that private companies like L&T and Tata are being given equal opportunities is very encouraging. But I hope this doesn't become another project that drags on for decades. Execution is key, let's see how fast they deliver.
This is huge! The AMCA will be a game-changer for Indian Air Force. With projects like these, we can reduce dependency on foreign imports and also save precious foreign exchange. Kudos to the PM and Defence Minister for pushing indigenous manufacturing. Now we need to ensure our scientists and engineers get the best resources.
Good initiative but I wish they also focused on timely delivery. Many indigenous projects like Tejas took decades to develop. We need to be more pragmatic about timelines and budget. Also, while private sector involvement is welcome, we must ensure quality control and proper oversight so that tax money is not wasted.
As an outsider looking in, India's push for self-reliance in defence is impressive. However, I think the real test will be in how these systems perform in real-world conditions. The AMCA programme seems ambitious, but with companies like L&T and Tata involved, I'm cautiously optimistic. Hope they collaborate well with DRDO and ADA.
Excellent move by PM Modi! This shows his personal interest in strengthening our defence sector. The fact that he chose to visit on World Environment Day and also plant a sapling underlines his vision of sustainable development. India is on the right track to becoming a global manufacturing hub for defence. Very proud moment! 🙏