# Strategic Partnership Model (SPM): What began as a policy slogan has become a movement—”Make in India” now drives an unprecedented wave of defence projects, opening doors for Startups and MSMEs like never before via SPM.
India’s Strategic Partnership Model (SPM) is redefining how defence manufacturing partnerships are built. Moving beyond traditional procurement, SPM encourages long-term joint ventures between Indian private sector majors and foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for the production of critical military platforms — including Submarines, Fighter Aircraft, Helicopters, and Armoured Vehicles. Examples:-⚙️ 1. Project 75(I) – Submarines.
*Sector: Naval platforms.
*Lead Agency: Indian Navy.
*Description: Procurement of six advanced conventional submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP).
*Indian Strategic Partners (shortlisted): Larsen & Toubro (L&T),
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
*Foreign OEMs (potential collaborators): Naval Group (France),
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany),
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (South Korea),
Rosoboronexport (Russia), Navantia (Spain).
*Objective: Build submarines in India with advanced tech transfer and local production.✈️ 2. Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) / Aircraft Projects.
*Sector: Aerospace.
*Lead Agency: Indian Navy / IAF.
*SPM Potential: To produce fighter aircraft or advanced helicopters through strategic partnerships between Indian majors (like HAL, Tata Advanced Systems, or Adani Defence) and global OEMs such as Boeing, Airbus, or Dassault Aviation.
*Goal: Indigenous manufacturing of aircraft for the Navy and Air Force.
🚁 3. Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH).
*Sector: Aviation / Rotary-wing.
*Lead Agency: Indian Navy.
*Objective: Build ~111 Naval Utility Helicopters to replace Chetak fleet.
*Indian SPs (prospective): Tata Advanced Systems, Mahindra Defence, L&T, Adani Defence.
*Foreign OEMs (prospective): Airbus Helicopters, Lockheed Martin–Sikorsky, Bell.
*Framework: Private Indian company as the Strategic Partner, OEM as the technology collaborator.
🚜 4. Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) & Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV).
*Sector: Armoured systems.
*Lead Agency: Indian Army.
*Indian SPs (likely contenders): Tata Motors, Mahindra Defence, L&T, Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group).
*Foreign OEMs (prospective): General Dynamics, Rheinmetall, BAE Systems.
*Objective: Co-develop and produce a new generation of armoured and infantry vehicles.
🛰️ 5. Advanced Jet Trainers / Utility Transport Aircraft.
*Sector: Aerospace (training & transport).
*Lead Agency: IAF / HAL / Private OEMs.
*SPM Relevance: Private industry collaboration for local manufacture of trainers or utility aircraft with OEMs like Embraer or Airbus under the SPM framework.
hashtag# It’s surprising to many that over 300 Make in India defence projects are now open to private industry—a goldmine of opportunity for Startups and MSMEs ready to innovate.
India’s Strategic Partnership Model (SPM) is redefining how defence manufacturing partnerships are built. Moving beyond traditional procurement, SPM encourages long-term joint ventures between Indian private sector majors and foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for the production of critical military platforms — including Submarines, Fighter Aircraft, Helicopters, and Armoured Vehicles. Examples:-⚙️ 1. Project 75(I) – Submarines.
*Sector: Naval platforms.
*Lead Agency: Indian Navy.
*Description: Procurement of six advanced conventional submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP).
*Indian Strategic Partners (shortlisted): Larsen & Toubro (L&T),
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
*Foreign OEMs (potential collaborators): Naval Group (France),
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany),
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (South Korea),
Rosoboronexport (Russia), Navantia (Spain).
*Objective: Build submarines in India with advanced tech transfer and local production.✈️ 2. Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) / Aircraft Projects.
*Sector: Aerospace.
*Lead Agency: Indian Navy / IAF.
*SPM Potential: To produce fighter aircraft or advanced helicopters through strategic partnerships between Indian majors (like HAL, Tata Advanced Systems, or Adani Defence) and global OEMs such as Boeing, Airbus, or Dassault Aviation.
*Goal: Indigenous manufacturing of aircraft for the Navy and Air Force.
🚁 3. Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH).
*Sector: Aviation / Rotary-wing.
*Lead Agency: Indian Navy.
*Objective: Build ~111 Naval Utility Helicopters to replace Chetak fleet.
*Indian SPs (prospective): Tata Advanced Systems, Mahindra Defence, L&T, Adani Defence.
*Foreign OEMs (prospective): Airbus Helicopters, Lockheed Martin–Sikorsky, Bell.
*Framework: Private Indian company as the Strategic Partner, OEM as the technology collaborator.
🚜 4. Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) & Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV).
*Sector: Armoured systems.
*Lead Agency: Indian Army.
*Indian SPs (likely contenders): Tata Motors, Mahindra Defence, L&T, Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group).
*Foreign OEMs (prospective): General Dynamics, Rheinmetall, BAE Systems.
*Objective: Co-develop and produce a new generation of armoured and infantry vehicles.
🛰️ 5. Advanced Jet Trainers / Utility Transport Aircraft.
*Sector: Aerospace (training & transport).
*Lead Agency: IAF / HAL / Private OEMs.
*SPM Relevance: Private industry collaboration for local manufacture of trainers or utility aircraft with OEMs like Embraer or Airbus under the SPM framework.
hashtag# It’s surprising to many that over 300 Make in India defence projects are now open to private industry—a goldmine of opportunity for Startups and MSMEs ready to innovate.