AI Generated Summary
- Punjab is stepping up efforts to carve a place for itself in India’s expanding defence manufacturing landscape, with discussions underway involving Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and BrahMos Aerospace to explore the possibility of setting up production units in the state.
- Col RS Bhatia (retd), President of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, underscored the capability of Indian firms to design and develop indigenous weapon systems, advocating for stronger infrastructural support and incentives to sustain the sector’s average growth rate of 18 per cent.
- As part of its strategy to boost industrial growth, the Punjab Government is developing a 1,200-acre industrial park at Rajpura, with significant financial backing from the Centre, which will cover 85 per cent of the project cost.
Punjab is stepping up efforts to carve a place for itself in India’s expanding defence manufacturing landscape, with discussions underway involving Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and BrahMos Aerospace to explore the possibility of setting up production units in the state.
A three-member delegation from HAL, including two Deputy General Managers from its Bengaluru headquarters, is expected to arrive in Chandigarh to hold detailed talks with state authorities. The meetings will focus on finalising operational frameworks and identifying aircraft components that could potentially be produced in Punjab. Simultaneously, representatives from BrahMos are likely to engage with the state government to assess the feasibility of manufacturing missile-related components locally.
These developments were revealed during a seminar titled “Defence Dialogue: How Can North India Contribute to the Growing Military Industrial Complex in India”, organised by the Gyan Setu Think Tank in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry. The event brought together defence experts, industry representatives and policymakers to discuss the region’s role in strengthening the country’s defence ecosystem.
As part of its strategy to boost industrial growth, the Punjab Government is developing a 1,200-acre industrial park at Rajpura, with significant financial backing from the Centre, which will cover 85 per cent of the project cost. A dedicated zone of approximately 200 to 250 acres has been reserved specifically for defence and aerospace companies.
In parallel, the state is investing in infrastructure to support emerging technologies. Drone testing facilities are being developed at the Patiala flying club, alongside the establishment of a Remote Pilot Training Organisation aimed at training drone operators and promoting innovation in unmanned aerial systems.
Despite these initiatives, Punjab’s current footprint in the military-industrial sector remains minimal. Addressing the seminar, Maj Gen CS Mann, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau, highlighted that Punjab contributes just 0.01 per cent to the national defence manufacturing ecosystem. Of the thousands of companies listed in the Army’s industrial database, only 18 are based in Punjab. He also noted the state’s limited participation in problem-solving initiatives and defence contracts, with just one contract awarded to a Punjab-based entity out of 116 signed nationwide in the last two years.
Maj Gen Mann stressed the need for Punjab’s industries to move beyond traditional sectors and adopt advanced technologies such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and next-generation materials, supported by proactive state policies.
Col RS Bhatia (retd), President of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, underscored the capability of Indian firms to design and develop indigenous weapon systems, advocating for stronger infrastructural support and incentives to sustain the sector’s average growth rate of 18 per cent. Reiterating this view, former Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen JP Singh (retd) called for increased investment in research and development and faster implementation of policies that favour indigenisation.
With renewed focus, fresh collaborations and targeted infrastructure development, Punjab now appears poised to strengthen its role in India’s defence manufacturing story, provided sustained efforts are made to bridge the existing gap and attract high-technology industries to the state.
