New Delhi (Staff Correspondent), November 07: Indigenously developed autonomous surface vessel, Matangi, has successfully completed its journey of 1600 kilometres from Mumbai to Thoothukudi. This was achieved in autonomous mode, that is without any human intervention as the vessel used indigenously developed ‘navigation and collision avoidance software’ that helped it navigate successfully.
The unmanned surface vessel which the Indian Navy plans to induct will help it big time in plugging any gaps in India’s maritime security.
The achievement not only is being celebrated by the Indian Navy but also by Sagar Defence Engineering, a Pune based defence start up, that has developed the vessel. But above all, this accomplishment echoes India’s capability of self-sustainability when it comes to developing indigenous technology for modern warfare and the role of private start ups and small scale industries.
This is not the first time when India has set an game changer example of indigenously built modern defence equipment that the world has set its eye on.
From Arihant, India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine, to AGNI V, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and from Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher, a precision system developed by the Armament Research Development Establishment (Pune) to Arjun tank that is a third generation main battle tank developed by DRDO, India has a fleet of such lethal machines ready to combat.
When it comes to defence sector, India has believed that innovation & indigenisation is the key to make science and technological innovation a revolutionary idea in this country.
The completion of the journey by Matangi also marks a success in underlining the significance and contribution that the start-ups and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are capable of offering in development of advanced defence technologies, at the same time endorsing both innovation and indigenization.
The vessel is being regarded as an example of cutting-edge innovation in defence sector as it attempts to highlight the importance of crucial contribution that indigenous start-ups and small scale industries can make in elevating the innovation standards of defence technology in India.
Giving voice to India’s Atma Nirbharta mission, Rajnath Singh had recently called upon Indian youth to indigenously develop high-end technologies which the country is currently importing from outside.
The aim is to minimise support for technology and innovation from other countries and not only develop them in India but also, in time to come, sell them to other countries.
“We are compelled to import some high-end technologies necessary…There is a need to focus on defence application of modern cutting-edge technologies in view of the changing nature of warfare,” he said, adding that government is committed towards supporting all stakeholders, including the private sector and academia, together to make India self-reliant in defence.
Other than the Raskha Mantri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has often reiterated that start ups and MSMEs will lead the way to successful development and validation of niche technology embodying the spirit of Swavlamban to make science, techology and innovation a revolutionary idea in the country.
In addition, what is reflective of India’s commitment towards attaining self reliance in defence sector is the kind of policies the government has introduced to encourage the design, development, and manufacture of defence equipment within the country.
Two major examples are — the SPRINT, an initiative by the Indian Navy to promote the development of niche defense technologies by domestic companies and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a program that aims to promote innovation and technology development in the defines and aerospace sectors.
While SPRINT aims at developing at least 75 new indigenous technologies and products for the Indian Navy in order to transform the Navy from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy, iDEX was launched in 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO).
Both of these initiatives speak volumes of how India has not only set the game of innovation in defence sector open for private players but has also brought together both public and private sectors to develop cutting edge technologies in order to fulfil India’s dream of becoming the biggest supplier of modern warfare technology across globe.
