The Hidden Chinese Shadow in India’s Defence: A Wake-Up Call
Research shows that drones, even those called “Made in India,” often use Chinese electronics like cameras, communication modules, and control systems.
India’s armed forces are our nation’s protect, retaining us with bravery and strength. Yet, a being concerned reality has emerged: plenty of their high-tech instruments, admire computers and drones, count on parts made in China. For the favored Indian, this isn’t when it comes to items—it’s about making sure our troopers own equipment that’s genuine and valid. With tensions between India and China, this reliance raises big concerns about our security. Why are we light the exhaust of Chinese ingredients, and what’s being completed to alternate this?
The topic starts with the excessive parts interior our militia’s computers and drones. Analysis presentations that drones, even those known as “Made in India,” continuously exhaust Chinese electronics admire cameras, dialog modules, and retain an eye fixed on methods. These can even be hacked or carry hidden malware, risking delicate data. Equally, computers and servers utilized by our forces, including those from world brands admire HP or IBM, continuously own Chinese-made ingredients. A 2014 document highlighted that nearly all defence computers count on foreign hardware, with China as a first-rate dealer. In February 2025, the authorities cancelled drone contracts price Rs 230 crore after finding Chinese parts, exhibiting how deep this topic runs.
Why are we stuck with Chinese ingredients? It’s a mixture of world and local challenges. China produces many of the sphere’s digital parts, making them cheap and extensively available. India’s “Salvage in India” push is attempting to halt this gap, but we’re light catching up in making evolved ingredients for computers and drones. In the previous, we offered methods without strict tests, and now, inserting off Chinese parts is admire fixing a flowery puzzle. It’s tricky to form high-tech equipment without counting on world provide chains the build China dominates.
Fortunately, India is combating support. The Ministry of Defence is taking strong steps, admire halting drone orders and warning companies to protect away from Chinese ingredients. They’re growing ways to take a look at and rob away these parts from delicate methods, including computers. Events admire the 2024 “Him-Drone-A-Thon” in Ladakh are encouraging Indian companies to form drones and tech suited to our wants. The Manufacturing-Linked Incentive map is boosting local manufacturing, but it’s a leisurely toddle. Building our possess computers and drone parts requires time, money, and abilities.
For every and every Indian, this matters because it’s about our security. We identify on our forces the exhaust of computers and drones that won’t fail them in a crisis. The authorities’s efforts are an honest delivery up, but we need sooner progress and more investment in Indian technology. As voters, we can improve “Atmanirbhar Bharat” by backing local innovation and anxious genuine defence methods. The Chinese puzzle in our computers and drones is a topic we can’t ignore—let’s solve it by constructing a stronger, self-reliant India.
—— E.O.M
(The author Girish Linganna of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He's additionally Director of ADD Engineering Parts, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You're going to reach him, at: [email protected])
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