Import of defence technology may kill innovation in Indian companies and it should be allowed only when there is no homegrown technology available, said G Satheesh Reddy, scientific advisor to the defence minister.

Speaking at the DEFTECH 2017 conference organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, Reddy said innovation should build competitiveness and not to become a hindrance.

He suggested that Make in India should involve indigenous design, development and manufacturing. Aakash missile and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile programmes are examples where the Indian industry has substantially contributed through build to specifications systems.

S Guruprasad, scientist & director general (PC&SI), DRDO urged the Indian Industry to make the best possible use of Technology Development Fund (TDF), an initiative of MoD executed through DRDO to develop indigenous capability.

For making India self-reliant in defence, Guruprasad stressed on the need for industry to continue with R&D activities and also to collaborate with DRDO for technologies.