Navy invites Kovai Inc to make components for ships

Coimbatore: Continuous research and development as well as investment is needed in the defence sector as it is a constant battle for superior technology, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla said here on Saturday.
“Without concentrating in research and development, your technology would become outdated and enemies would have the hold of better technology,” he said while addressing a group of industrialists here. He invited them to make components for the ships.

“Most of the warships of the Navy are made in India. Cutting-edge technology should be used in the warships and there is always a constant need for improvement,” he said.

Speaking about the procedural problems, he said that a single window system does not exist in the country and the Navy has been pushing to implement it. “When somebody innovates and makes a product, it is necessary that he/she should be able to sell the product for a certain number of time without competition so that they could increase the cost of R&D and it could be done through methods of single window system,” Chawla said, assuring that the system would soon be implemented in the country. “It is this procedure that has helped the US to become expert in the field of defence. Similar procedures are being followed in other countries as well.”

Talking about brain-drain, Chawla said, “Due to lack of opportunities, many people had gone abroad. US is one of the nations, which benefited because of Indians. Some of them have started to come back.”

Coimbatore has a unique ecosystem, he said and asked the industrialists to showcase what they are good at.

Meanwhile, commandant David said that they had conducted an interaction with CODISSIA last February and about 88 companies had showed readiness and of which, specific requirements to fill in the applications were given to 62 companies. “Only eight companies have registered with us so far. We have issued orders to two companiesone from Coimbatore and the other from Trichy.”