New Delhi: India’s Ministry of Defence is strengthening checks on Chinese components used in Indian defence platforms to improve national security and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
The move focuses on identifying the origin of imported parts, checking indigenous content and making defence supply chains more secure.
India is also expanding local manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative to encourage Indian companies, including MSMEs and start-ups, to produce critical defence components.
Why Is India Checking Chinese Components In Defence Equipment
India is increasing its focus on foreign-made components used in military equipment manufactured by domestic companies.
Read also: Indian Army Targets 300 Critical Spares To Reduce Defence Import Dependence
The main concern is national security. Even if a defence platform is assembled in India, some of its important electronic parts, sensors and other components may come from foreign suppliers.
In July 2025, reports said the Defence Ministry planned to increase scrutiny of Chinese-origin components in military equipment. The ministry also planned to examine the actual indigenous content of defence platforms and identify weaknesses in supply chains.
The review also aims to identify cases where companies may claim higher domestic content than they actually use.
India Focuses On Local Military Supply Chain
The Defence Ministry’s proposed review covers several important areas of defence procurement. These include:
- Chinese Components: Identifying parts sourced from China or countries sharing a land border with India.
- Indigenous Content: Checking whether defence equipment genuinely contains the claimed percentage of Indian-made components.
- Supply Chain Risks: Identifying dependence on foreign suppliers for critical materials and components.
- Cost Analysis: Examining procurement costs and the impact of technology transfers.
- Procurement Reforms: Improving transparency and making urgent defence purchases more efficient.
The objective is to ensure that military equipment manufactured in India is secure, reliable and less dependent on potentially vulnerable foreign supply chains.
Indian Military Supply Chain: Chinese Components In Military Drones Raise Security Concerns
Military drones are among the defence platforms receiving particular attention because they depend heavily on electronic systems.
These systems include cameras, communication equipment, sensors, radio transmission devices and flight-control components.
Chinese-origin components in such systems can create security concerns if they contain hidden vulnerabilities or provide opportunities for unauthorised access.
In 2023, India introduced restrictions on Chinese components in military drones over security concerns.
The issue gained further attention in 2024 when the Defence Ministry reportedly asked industry associations to caution manufacturers about sourcing Chinese components for defence drones.
This highlighted the importance of checking not only the final manufacturer but also the suppliers of individual components.
What is the Role of SRIJAN Portal Indian Military Supply Chain
Alongside stricter checks, India is increasing its efforts to manufacture defence components domestically.
The Ministry of Defence launched the SRIJAN Defence Portal in August 2020 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The portal connects defence public sector companies and the armed forces with Indian manufacturers interested in producing previously imported components.
It provides opportunities for domestic companies, MSMEs and start-ups to develop and manufacture defence equipment and spare parts.
According to the Ministry of Defence, more than 15,700 defence items had been successfully indigenised through the SRIJAN initiative by June 2026.
The initiative is helping India reduce imports and strengthen its domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Government Adds 405 More Items To Defence Indigenisation List
India has also expanded its Positive Indigenisation Lists to encourage domestic production of strategically important defence equipment.
On August 18, 2026, the Department of Defence Production announced the sixth Positive Indigenisation List, covering 405 strategically important items.
These items include components, sub-systems, spare parts and raw materials used in different defence platforms. The list covers several important military systems, including:
- Advanced Light Helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft.
- Su-30MKI fighter aircraft and AL-31FP engines.
- T-72 and T-90 battle tanks.
- Warships and missile systems.
- Radar, sonar and satellite communication systems.
- Other critical defence electronics and equipment.
The government estimated a business potential of around ₹3,070 crore from the newly announced list.
Once the specified indigenisation timelines are completed, these items are expected to be procured from Indian manufacturers.
This will create more opportunities for domestic defence companies and technology developers.
Read also: Can India Become A Top 10 Defence Exporter? ₹75,000 Crore Target Proposed
FAQs
The SRIJAN Defence Portal is a government platform launched in August 2020 to help Indian companies, MSMEs and start-ups manufacture defence components that were previously imported.
India is checking Chinese components to reduce security risks, identify foreign dependencies and ensure that military equipment uses reliable and secure parts.
Announced on August 18, 2026, the sixth Positive Indigenisation List includes 405 strategically important defence items with an estimated business potential of ₹3,070 crore. It aims to increase domestic defence manufacturing and reduce imports.
