Examining the Antecedents of Defence Indigenization for Modernization of Armed Forces in India

Abstract

When it comes to protecting a nation's sovereignty and national security, the role that the defence industry plays is indispensable.In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on indigenization, which refers to the development and manufacturing of military items within the borders of a country. It entails putting in place a robust military industrial base that can both contribute to the nation's overall security and fulfill the requirements of the country's armed forces.The modernization of the armed forces is dependent on acquiring latest military hardware , best served through developing indigenous technology. Given the importance of defence indigenization, this paper tries to examine the antecedents of defence indigenization in India using structural equation modelling. The analysis of the data reveals that government policies and private-public partnership play a vital role in defence indigenization. However, transfer of technology is yet to play a significant role in indigenization. Further, there is a strong relationship between defence indigenization and modernization of armed forces. Defence indigenization can be facilitated by fostering private-public partnerships, enhancing technology transfers, and streamlining government regulations.