Media: India banned drone manufacturers from using Chinese components

The Indian government has banned manufacturers of drones for military and reconnaissance purposes from using components manufactured in China, writes Reuters.

At two UAV bidding meetings in February and March, Indian military officials told potential bidders that equipment or sub-components from “countries sharing land borders with India would not be acceptable for security reasons,” the agency said.

A high-ranking representative of the country’s defense ministry confirmed to the agency that the wording about common borders is a euphemism for the PRC. According to him, the Indian industry has become dependent on China amid rising tensions between countries and concerns about cyber attacks.

According to Reuters, Indian intelligence officials are concerned that intelligence gathering could be compromised by Chinese-made components and related “security loopholes” in drone-mounted communications equipment, cameras or software.

In total, the Indian authorities have allocated 1.6 trillion rupees ($19.8 billion) for military modernization in 2023 and 2024, 75% of which is intended for the development of domestic industry. The ban on Chinese components has increased the cost of producing military drones as manufacturers are forced to look elsewhere for replacements, experts told the agency. Samir Joshi, founder of NewSpace Research and Technologies, estimated that about 70% of the products in these production chains were produced in China.

At the end of July, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the introduction of export controls on drones and some components for them. Restrictions are imposed on the export of a number of aircraft engines, lasers, radars, as well as anti-drone systems and other goods that “have a significant impact on national security.” Measures are introduced from September 1.