India Bars Military Drone Makers From Using Chinese Parts

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Facts

  • According to four defense and industry officials as well as documents accessed by Reuters, India has in recent months barred domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China.1
  • The decision was reportedly made due to security concerns, with sources citing worries surrounding communication systems, cameras, radio transmissions, and operating software within drones.2
  • Reuters suggests that two meetings took place in February and March, during which India's military told potential bidders that acquiring equipment from nations "sharing land borders" was unacceptable for "security reasons."3
  • A senior defense official claims that references to neighboring nations were a direct reference to China, where an official supplier for small Indian military drones — NewSpace Research and Technologies — said 70% of components had been imported from.4
  • India's decision was also apparently based upon a desire to break free from its dependency on China, despite the country's concerns surrounding cyberattacks. Beijing has denied any role in Indian cyberattacks.5
  • India has set aside 75% of its 1.6T rupee (US$19.77B) military modernization budget for domestic industry. The latest decision follows the US, where Congress barred the Pentagon from buying or using drones and/or components made in China in 2019.6

Sources: 1Reuters, 2Quartz, 3India Today, 4Asia Financial, 5Brecorder, and 6SaltWire.

Narratives

  • Anti-China narrative, as provided by India TV. Through vast investment, China currently holds a grip on India in the global information war. While China's policy is not India-specific, and often targets countries neck-deep in debt to Beijing, India must reject China's growing influence over the state. In the age of technology, conflict is not fought merely using weapons, and Modi's government must be wary of Beijing's expansive tools of control.
  • Pro-China narrative, as provided by China Daily. China, since 2002, has gradually enforced export controls in line with common international norms and practices concerning high-performance unmanned aerial devices. China will continue with such a practice, and uphold the belief that technological advances should only be used in good faith for the global benefit of all people.

Predictions