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Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan praised the Agnipath scheme on Wednesday, describing it as an excellent opportunity for young people to join and serve in the defence forces.
General Chauhan visited Nibe Industries in Pune, where he reviewed the capabilities of small and medium enterprises within the defence sector. Speaking on the occasion, General Chauhan stated, "The armed forces are undergoing significant reforms and transformation. As part of these reforms, we are advancing towards jointness and integration. We no longer view the services separately; instead, the Army, Air Force, and Navy are being considered as one unified entity, aiming to project their strength together. Another major reform is the Agnipath scheme, which provides a valuable opportunity for young people to join and work in the defence forces. However, the success of these reforms depends on coordination among academia, the defence industry, and the three services." He further noted, "In the last 4-5 years, we have witnessed growing cooperation, coordination, synergy, and fusion between these three elements, all of which are essential to propelling the defence industry forward. This alignment is a necessity that should have been established much earlier." Nibe Industries Chairman Ganesh Nibe highlighted the launch of the new division, Navy Ordnance and Maritime Ltd., reflecting their commitment to 'Make in India' under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat policy. "We draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the father of the Indian Navy. The Nibe Group has built a strong record in defence manufacturing through capacity building. We have established an integrated defence systems manufacturing plant in Pune and an electronics assembly and testing unit in Bengaluru. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to the production of critical components. Our goal is to achieve self-reliance in defence, aligned with PM Modi's vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. I am grateful to PM Modi and the Ministry of Defence for creating a platform and opportunities for entrepreneurs like myself," Nibe said. Ron Cohen, CEO and President of global arms manufacturer Sig Sauer, expressed enthusiasm about signing a joint venture agreement with Ganesh Nibe to expand Sig Sauer's manufacturing in India under the 'Made in India' initiative. "We have been active in India for almost 20 years, sourcing many components from the defence industry here. India is now our largest procurement source globally. Operating in 93 countries, we are the world's largest firearms manufacturer. A few years ago, we won a significant order for the Indian armed forces as part of their modernisation efforts, delivering 72,500 Sig 16 rifles, which have been well received by the troops. Recently, we were awarded an additional order for 73,000 units, to be delivered throughout 2025 in partnership with Nibe," Cohen said. He added that working in India allows Sig Sauer to bring their technology, quality, and innovation to a market with significant demand over the next 5 to 10 years. "By 2025, we plan to produce a complete product in India, initially for the Indian market, whether for the MOD or MHA. In the future, India will serve as our operational base to meet demand across much of the eastern hemisphere. We see India as a vital source of engineers and manufacturing. The rapid advancement of Indian technology and market appeal makes it an ideal hub for Sig Sauer outside the United States," he explained. Reflecting on the partnership with Nibe, Cohen said, "With the drive Nibe demonstrates, I am confident in our collaboration. We have a Sig Sauer procurement office in Delhi and are steadily increasing the proportion of components manufactured in India. As a high-end company and the largest firearms supplier to the US military, our quality standards are stringent, and we are pleased to find that level of excellence in India," he concluded. (ANI)
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