India has banned the import of drone parts from China. The government has taken this step due to concerns about security risks in recent months. News agency Reuters made this claim based on government papers and information from 4 defence officials.
According to officials, the country’s security leaders are concerned that the presence of Chinese parts in the drones’ communication functions, cameras, radio transmission and operating software could put intelligence at risk.
India has taken this step at a time when it is pushing for military modernization amid tensions with its nuclear-armed neighbour. The Reuters report further states that two meetings were called in February and March to discuss drone tenders in the country.
In this meeting, Indian military officials told the potential bidders that equipment from countries sharing land borders with India would not be acceptable due to security reasons. Although the name of China was not mentioned in the meeting, it essentially meant Chinese-made equipment and components.
An Indian defence official told Reuters that the country would have to be prepared to accept higher costs to promote domestic manufacturing. The official said that despite the threat of cyber attacks, Indian industry had become heavily dependent on China.
“If I buy equipment from China today and say I want to make it in India, the cost will go up by 50 per cent,” he said. “We as a nation need to be ready to help build the ecosystem here,” he said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promised in February 2023 that one-fourth of this fiscal year’s defence research and development budget would go to private industry. Due to this, the equipment of drones can be made in India itself, so there will be no need to buy equipment from China.
Earlier in 2019, the Pentagon also banned purchasing and using drones and components made in China.
