Brigadier Jogendra Singh Sial, Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), spoke on “User Challenges in Capability Development of Indian Army through Defence Industry” held on 16 June 2025. The session was moderated by Gp. Capt. (Dr.) R.K. Narang (Retd.), Senior Fellow, MP-IDSA. Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA, and scholars of the Institute, attended the meeting.

Executive Summary

Brig. Sial highlighted user challenges in the Indian Army’s capability development through the defence industry, including the equipment lifecycle concept, user expectations, standardisation, comprehensive TOT (transfer of technology) blueprints, sustainment support, and obsolescence management. The case studies of Tanks – T-90 and MBT Arjun Mk 1, Pinaka Artillery Gun System and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) with relevance and industrial accountability were also presented.

Detailed Report

In his opening remarks, Gp. Capt. (Dr.) RK Narang (Retd.) began by highlighting the nuances and complexities associated with Transfer of Technology (ToT), which may provide what and how of technology, but does not provide the whys of the technology. This becomes a limitation in the modification, upgradation, and development of future indigenous variants. He highlighted the need for a scientific mechanism to ascertain indigenous content in terms of materials, components and software that are manufactured by Indian partners to optimally leverage ToT for capability building. He observed that ToTs are not a replacement for indigenously designed systems but are interim solutions till indigenous capability is developed. Also, ToTs should complement indigenous development programs and not have an adverse impact on them. The ToTs should have a roadmap for the manufacturing of various systems by Indian entities in a time-bound manner. The ToTs should have a long-term impact and understanding of the challenges of the Defence Services besides industry demands, bridging two divergent perspectives, the Army’s operational urgency and industry’s commercial timelines.

The Speaker, Brig Jogendra Singh Sial outlined the military capability development core parts along with the major role of Indian Defence Industry in equipment management. A clear focus on understanding the equipment Life Cycle was presented wherein three phases, Acquisition Phase, In-Service and Discard/ Obsolescence Phases were explained. While all the procurement related processes and procedures form the mainstay of Acquisition Phase, the exploitation of an equipment through its major life span is in the In-Service Phase wherein it throws seen and unforeseen operational challenges including sustainment issues. The whole Supply Chain Management for the specific equipment gets tested in real time. By the time equipment is approaching the Obsolescence Phase strategic decisions on whether to extend the equipment’s operational life or to phase it out altogether are on the anvil. Also, alongwith the life phases of an equipment the three distinct categories of equipment under exploitation were also discussed i.e. Niche Tech laden new equipment, the second category equipment forming the back bone in various Services (present in large quantity in the domain of war fighting viz. Air Defence, Armoured Tanks, Artillery Guns, Communication, Mobility, Electronic Warfare etc.) and lastly the third category of legacy equipment which is being phased out.

Brig. Sial portrayed an outline of the user’s perspective, allegorical to an iceberg. While a finished product conforming to users technical and operational requirements is the need of the hour, however, a complete range of back end activities, processes and procedure linked to its intricate design and production assumes equal importance, more so if we want to earnestly progress in the direction of Aatmanirbharta in Defence Production and Viksit Bharat 2047. He focused on four major challenges of equipment management to include ToT, Sustainment, Standardisation, and Obsolescence Management. The larger gambit of issues in defence production by industry also includes Processes Transparency and Procedures (ISO Stds), Certifications, Capacity Building, Quality Control, Size of Business, Experience in manufacture of Similar Products and proven track record of the manufacturer. While laying emphasis on the ToT two major categories were highlighted where in the first one is between a foreign OEM and its Indian Partner, second type of  ToT is in relation to the indigenised product development where DRDO and its allied lab pass on the technology to its Development Partner (DP).

Brig. Sial explained that a ToT includes the complete blueprint of a product should an attempt be subsequently undertaken to manufacture the product locally. Even the minutest of details w.r.t. metallurgy, manufacturing specification, various processes and procedures is documented and handed over during a ToT. The issue which needs to be absorbed is that for a product each of the sub systems and sub assemblies will have a respective ToT.  Further, this ToT is different from MToT which is from the maintenance point of view. Hence, based on the various factors of finance, production, operational and sustainment requirements ToTs/ MToTs should be executed diligently failing which there are time and cost penalties to be incurred by MoD/user with adverse impact on operational preparedness. The indigenously developed  Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT), with its German-origin engine, and the T-90 Tanks, produced under license from Russia at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, are key case studies that demonstrate gaps in technology transfer. For Arjun-Mk 1, with German MTU engines, technology gaps and production stoppages have impacted timelines, pushing engine availability and the Arjun Mk 2 version well into 2029.

Sustainment requirements form another major challenge. From SMTs (Special Maintenance Tools) and STEs (Special Test Equipment) to spares and technical literature, the entire sustainment ecosystem must be aligned from the outset. For instance, SMTs like those for TATRA truck steering geometry are required for regular maintenance but are often unavailable, affecting operational readiness. Additionally, standardisation challenges arise across equipment families.

Case studies viz Pinaka and ATAGS further highlight the operational and sustainment challenges faced by the Army. The Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL), developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), has been split between L&T and Tata for contract execution, leading to challenges at the sub system levels and interchanging/ interoperability of various parts. Likewise, ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), while promising, revealed issues in split manufacturing orders—60% by KSSL and 40% by Tata—highlighting the need for better coordination and standardisation in large-scale defence procurements.

One of the most pressing issues is obsolescence management, particularly for legacy equipment. The need for upfront contractual provisions for spare parts and assembly line support cannot be overstated. Without these, assembly lines go cold, leading to challenges in sourcing parts and escalating costs.

Brig. Sial proceeded to provide the detailed progress that  India has made in developing indigenous defence capabilities, however, the challenges in technology transfer, sustainment, standardisation, and obsolescence management remain significant. These can be effectively addressed through better collective planning and detailed deliberations during procurement stage. The road ahead requires realistic expectations, coordinated efforts between all stake holders and a firm commitment to achieving true capability development for the Indian Army.

Questions and Comments

Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, DG, MP-IDSA, complimented Brig. Sial for his presentation on a pertinent subject, discussing the importance of technology upgradation and modernisation, while highlighting modern requirements with reference to Atmanirbhar Bharat. Questions from the research scholars aimed at seeking clarity on various challenges in procurement processes, the impact of lack of transparency in ToT management by various private and public organisations, the supply chain management implementation under various scenarios, the blockchain concept and the concept of National Champions.

The session concluded after an insightful exchange of views between scholars during the Q&A session

The Report was prepared by Ms. Neha Kaushal, Intern, Military Affairs Centre, MP-IDSA, New Delhi.