New Delhi, Aug 9 (KNN) The central government in the recent months has restricted domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China, according to four defence and industry officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. 

This decision is due to concerns about security vulnerabilities.

The measure comes amid tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours and as New Delhi pursues a military modernisation that envisages greater use of unmanned quadcopters, long-endurance systems and other autonomous platforms. 

Three of these people and some of the six other government and industry figures interviewed by Reuters spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to the media or because of the topic's sensitivity. India's defence ministry did not respond to Reuters questions. 

India's approach, reported by Reuters for the first time, complements phased import restrictions on surveillance drones since 2020 and is being implemented through military tenders, documents show.

At two meetings in February and March to discuss drone tenders, Indian military officials told potential bidders that equipment or subcomponents from "countries sharing land borders with India will not be acceptable for security reasons", according to minutes reviewed by Reuters. 

The minutes did not identify the military officials. One tender document said such subsystems had "security loopholes" that compromised critical military data, and called for vendors to disclose components' origin.

A senior defence official told Reuters the reference to neighbouring countries was a euphemism for China, adding that Indian industry had become dependent on the world's second-largest economy despite concern about cyberattacks.  (KNN Bureau)