Intelligence agencies have raised concerns about the use of Chinese components, including electrical parts, in drones acquired by the Indian armed forces from domestic private suppliers. Many of these drones are deployed in border areas of the northern and eastern sectors. 

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has halted an order placed by the Army for logistics drones intended for deployment along India's borders with China. 

Senior Army officers, along with the Defence Ministry, are currently developing an “appropriate methodology” to prevent Chinese components from being used in military drones. They have identified a significant risk related to Chinese electronics, particularly concerning the potential for data transfer issues. 

“It is a very live issue. Even the government has taken some action on this recently,” stated Major General C.S. Mann, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau (ADB). 

He was referring to a letter from the Defence Ministry sent to industry bodies—Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Assocham, and the Confederation of Indian Industry's Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM)—in June of this year. The letter instructed these organisations to notify their member companies to avoid using Chinese parts in drones. 

The letter noted, “It has come to the notice of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, that Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt. Ltd; Sky Industries, Gandhinagar; and Garuda Aerospace Pvt. Ltd are reportedly engaged in selling or supplying UAVs/drones to the Indian Defence Forces, which involve the assembly and integration of Chinese components.” 

According to sources, an order for 200 logistics drones placed with Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt. Ltd. has been put on hold. The companies involved have been asked to "prove that they are not using Chinese components." 

Sources also noted a significant issue, although defence procurement rules prohibit Chinese components, the armed forces have been relying on self-certification from drone manufacturers to confirm that their products are free of such components. 

In response to a query from ThePrint, Major General Mann stated, “Self-certification is one of the methods we use. Deliberations are ongoing. We are collaborating with the Department of Defence Production and the MoD to develop an appropriate methodology for identifying Chinese components.” 

He added that although no specific timeline has been established, the Army is working to develop this methodology as quickly as possible. “Various methods are being considered, and we will implement a particular framework soon,” he said. 

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