Samtel Avionics to soon launch indigenously developed jammer-interceptor

Samtel Avionics is set to expand its defence technology portfolio with the launch of indigenous jamming and interception technology, while also advancing its diversification strategy through satellite manufacturing, Puneet Kaura, its CEO, recently said.

In a company release, he is quoted as saying: “This technology we have developed will be part of our portfolio soon and can be deployed along the border areas.”

As part of its diversification plans, Samtel is also working on satellite technologies.

“We have satellites as one part of our diversification strategy. We have completed the conceptual design and identified the building blocks. Once manufactured, it can not only be supplied to the Indian Armed Forces but also to global customers,” he claimed.

From ‘Made in India’ to ‘Owned by India’

Referring to the growing global interest in Indian defence products, Kaura said, “After Operation Sindoor, Indian defence products have become battle tested and the world is looking at us. The country stands at a defining moment in its journey towards defence indigenisation and must move beyond manufacturing defence equipment to owning the core technologies, intellectual property and innovation that power them if it is to achieve true self-reliance and emerge as a global defence powerhouse. You cannot truly call a product “Indian” unless the technology, design and intellectual property are owned in India. As long as critical technologies remain outside our control, some level of dependence will continue,” he believed.

Need of the hour: The will to spend on innovation

Highlighting the importance of innovation-led growth, Kaura said, “India currently spends only around 0.3 percent of GDP on innovation, compared to 3-5 percent in many developed countries. If we aspire to become a developed nation by 2047, accelerating innovation and indigenous product development must become a national priority. There is no dearth of talent in India. What we need is the determination to build technologies here. Every successful startup inspires many more, and I hope more young innovators choose to build solutions that strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.”

At present, India is said to be importing around 60 percent of its defence technologies, but this is reducing with time.

“Global wars have opened markets for us. The opportunities emerging from global defence spending and India’s role are growing in international supply chains. Rising defence budgets across Europe and other regions present significant opportunities for Indian companies to integrate into global defence supply chains through technology partnerships and manufacturing collaborations. For instance, Europe has capacity constraints and they need manufacturers like us,” he said.

Highlighting the scale of the opportunity for the Indian defence production industry, he said, “India is close to a $4 trillion economy today and spends around 2 percent of its GDP on defence. As we move towards a $5 trillion economy, and eventually a $10 trillion economy, defence spending is expected to move closer to global benchmarks of around 3 percent of GDP. Combined with our increasing indigenous content, the opportunity for Indian defence companies will multiply.”

Integral role of private sector

On the role of the private sector, Kaura said innovation-led enterprises will be instrumental in accelerating India’s defence capabilities. Creative solutions can be developed much more effectively by the private sector because it has the flexibility to innovate, experiment and push technological boundaries. India’s future defence ecosystem will be built on innovation-led private participation. As Indian defence products gain acceptance globally, the country will steadily transition from being one of the largest importers of defence equipment to a trusted global supplier, he believes.