New Delhi: India’s Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have a healthy order book worth Rs 2,31,981 crore ($32.5 billion) that could help them stay in business for a period ranging from two years to 10 years.

The details of the order book for each of the DPSUs is given here:

Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik told the House of the People (Lok Sabha), the lower house of the bicameral Parliamentary system, that the order book volume of Defence PSUs depends on the customers, which are the armed forces and export opportunities.

In written replies to questions from members of the Lok Sabha, Naik said the steps taken to improve the order book position include modernisation of production capacity and infrastructure; emphasis on import substitution and indigenisation; promotion of exports; introduction of new technologies; product diversification; setting up of Joint Ventures with foreign companies and preference being given to ‘Buy (Indian – Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)‘ equipment under the Capital Acquisition in Defence Procurement Procedure 2016.

Answering more questions in Parliament of India, Naik also conveyed these details on specific issues:

AKASH MISSILE: India has withdrawn a global procurement plan for Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM) and has awarded the contract to the Defence PSUs for the Akash weapon system, an indigenous Surface-to-Air Missile designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). These new Akash missiles will have an upgrade Seeker Technology, reduced footprint for weapon system elements, 360° engagement capability and high altitude and low temperature operation, which is named as Akash Prime. Akash, other wise, has been deployed by both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army (IA) in combat areas.

CHINA BORDER: The government said there is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China and there are areas along the LAC where both sides have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto their respective perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur, but no casualty has been reported in the recent years. Government is taking measures to ensure that defence forces are in a state of readiness to meet operational and security challenges.

During the recent visit to Chennai of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India, views were exchanged on outstanding issues, including on the boundary question. Issues discussed also included efforts to arrive at a mutually-agreed framework for fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement based on ‘Political Parameters and Guiding Principles‘ agreed by two sides in 2005. There were talks on continued efforts to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas and additional ‘Confidence Building Measures‘.

ARMY EXERCISE: The Indian Army conducts routine military exercises every year. Exercise ‘HIM VIJAY‘ was one such endeavour. It was conducted to validate operational capabilities of India’s combat formations. Training exercises are conducted from within available resources and funds. The exercise was an all-arms exercise and approximately a Division strength participated. The engagement of our armed forces with foreign countries, including through military exercise, is reviewed from time-to-time and relevant steps, as required, are taken to engage foreign countries. During the last three years and the current year, 72 joint exercises were conducted by the army, 39 by the navy, 21 by the air force and 2 tri-service exercises were conducted.