Indian Military’s 45 Make-II Tasks In Focus As Service Invests Rs 1.13 lakh cr in MAKE Initiative

In keeping with the Ministry of Defence, as of March 24, 2025, a complete of 145 initiatives have been undertaken underneath the MAKE framework, with 171 Indian companies collaborating.

This correspondent has learnt that 45 initiatives fall underneath Make-II, the class that focuses on industry-funded prototype growth. Notably, 19 of those had been initiated suo moto by the Military—which means the Military recognized a necessity and invited {industry} to suggest options. Mixed with Make-I initiatives, the entire worth of those initiatives is roughly Rs 113,000 crore.

*A special type of procurement*

Not like Make-I, the place the federal government funds prototype growth, Make-II initiatives are funded by {industry}. As soon as a prototype is efficiently developed and meets the Military’s necessities, the federal government assures an order, decreasing monetary danger for the seller. The Make-II course of is meant to be sooner and extra versatile, giving Indian companies area to innovate and reply to the Military’s operational wants.

The requirement for at the very least 50 per cent Indigenous Content material (IC) additional ensures that know-how growth stays native, which helps the broader objective of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. For Indian companies, Make-II is a enterprise alternative and a technique to take part extra straight in shaping defence capabilities.

*Examples of rising programs*

Some current Make-II contracts spotlight how this mannequin is beginning to ship outcomes. In late March 2025, Zen Applied sciences acquired an order value roughly Rs 152 crore for its Built-in Air Defence Fight Simulator (IADCS). Designed to be used with the legacy L70 air defence gun, the simulator allows sensible, software-based coaching. This reduces the necessity for dwell firing whereas nonetheless sustaining excessive ranges of operational preparedness.

In July 2024, Apollo Microsystems was awarded a undertaking to develop the Car Mounted Counter Swarm Drone System (VMCSDS), additionally underneath Make-II. The undertaking displays a rising concern in navy circles over drone swarms and the necessity for responsive, cellular counter-drone programs. The contract was structured with no upfront price obligation and an 85-week supply schedule.

Earlier, in January 2022, the Military signed its first Make-II contract with Anadron Programs for the Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Goal (MEAT). The system helps simulate aerial threats throughout live-fire coaching, providing a reusable and cost-effective resolution for bettering air defence responses.

*Constructing for the long-term*

Make-II initiatives are a shift not solely in procurement mechanics but additionally in mindset. The Military’s proactive identification of initiatives and its willingness to co-develop with personal companies suggests a extra collaborative strategy than previously. For the home defence sector, this is a chance to develop capabilities, retain mental property, and scale back dependence on imported programs.

On the similar time, there are challenges. The preliminary funding burden nonetheless falls on the {industry}, and timelines can stretch on account of trial and analysis procedures. But, with two Make-II contracts already signed (value a mixed Rs 178 crore) and one Make-I contract awarded, the framework is exhibiting indicators of momentum.

Over time, if the method continues to mature, Make-II might turn out to be a cornerstone of India’s defence planning. It represents a gradual however vital transfer in the direction of indigenisation— constructed not on slogans however on programs designed and developed at residence.