India's Military Jugaad: From Battlefield Fix to Export Opportunity
As India pushes to expand defence exports, it should also market a less publicised strength: the military's unmatched jugaad – its ability to improvise cost-effective, adaptable fixes to upgrade and sustain a wide array of equipment.
For militaries that can't afford cutting-edge Western systems, India's -driven approach offers a distinct niche: reasonably priced, battle-tested, resource-efficient alternatives to meet operational needs.
Veterans and defence analysts argue that India's knack for stretching limited budgets to deliver battlefield capability is highly exportable – especially to developing nations with similar constraints. There is growing interest in refurbished air defence systems, upgraded Soviet-era platforms, and low-cost ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) solutions that blend components from diverse sources.
India's experience with retrofitting legacy platforms offers a viable model
Many militaries across Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia face the same problems that shaped India's jugaad ethos: tight budgets, aging inventories, unreliable supply chains, and politically fraught procurement. These countries are not necessarily looking for next-gen weapons – but for maintainable, effective systems that won't strain their defence budgets.
India's experience with retrofitting legacy platforms like the 1960s-era MiG-21 'Bis', modularising battlefield electronics, developing simulators, and integrating Israeli, French, Russian, and indigenous systems offers a viable model.
Military technicians from the armed forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), and DRDO have extended the life of Cold War-era Soviet air defence systems, which performed effectively during last month's Operation Sindoor alongside modern platforms.
Indigenous systems like the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, the Dhanush 155mm/45-calibre howitzer, and the ALH Rudra helicopter embody the mindset – melding domestic engineering with imported subsystems to produce efficient, cost-effective weapon platforms.
Rudra combines a locally built airframe with Indian Helina anti-tank missiles and French Mistral air-to-air missiles. Pinaka integrates indigenous engineering with imported subsystems to deliver a powerful, modular system adaptable to many battlefield needs.
Dhanush represents a smart upgrade of the 1980s-era Bofors FH-77B howitzer, retrofitted with modern electronics and locally sourced components. By enhancing a proven system, Indian engineers created an affordable artillery piece with renewed battlefield relevance.
'India should showcase and export its jugaad capabilities, which remain unparalleled,' said Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle (Retd) of New Delhi-based Security Risks consultancy. He called jugaad the indigenous defence industry's core strength, arguing it offers economical alternatives to nations struggling with expensive system replacements.
Still, Bhonsle warned that in its current form lacks the standardisation and documentation needed for global exports. To become a serious exporter of adaptive military technology, India must transform from ad hoc innovation into a certifiable, modular, and globally compliant framework.
Industry experts agree. Manuals, upgrade protocols, and implementation documentation are needed to make jugaad export-ready. Collaborations between start-ups, MSMEs, DRDO, armed forces technicians, and the corporatised Ordnance Factory Board could help formalise the process.
Western militaries operate under strict rules on certification and IP compliance—standards that improvised fixes often breach. Even India's celebrated upgrades to the Su-30MKI, integrating French and Indian missiles with Israeli EW systems and helmet-mounted sights, would violate OEM contracts in most Western countries.
Nevertheless, India's ability to keep over 290 ageing Chetak and Cheetah helicopters flying in Siachen at 14,000 feet – far beyond the original design envelope – is a striking example of battlefield ingenuity.
How jugaad helped India during past conflicts
During the 1999 Kargil War, the IAF rapidly armed Mirage 2000H fighters with Indian-made 1,000 lb precision-guided bombs, achieving devastating accuracy. Earlier, Indian defence technicians had quietly helped the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan maintain and overhaul its Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters – critical assets in the fight against the Taliban.
On land, Soviet-era BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles were upgraded with thermal sights and night-fighting capabilities. DRDO engineers repurposed the BMP-2 chassis to build the MUNTRA series of unmanned ground vehicles for surveillance, mine detection, and NBC operations – keeping troops out of high-risk zones.
Likewise, the T-72 'Ajeya' tanks were retrofitted with Israeli and Indian thermal imagers and night sights, despite lacking the original design provisions. The P-18 early warning radar from the 1970s was modernised with Indian-built digital processors and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems.
Naval aviation saw similar upgrades. The licence-built Dornier Do-228, a German design from the 1980s, was retrofitted with EO pods for coastal surveillance, creating real-time ISTAR capability. These low-cost aircraft now supplement the Indian Navy's expensive P-8I Poseidons.
In conflict zones like Kashmir, the Northeast, and Punjab, the Army turned civilian vehicles – tractors, Maruti Gypsies, Nissan Jongas – into light armoured vehicles, fitting them with machine guns and communications gear. These improvised platforms, often built in local workshops, were ideal for rugged terrain and counterinsurgency missions.
Also Read: The Wonders of Jugaad in the Indian and Pakistani Militaries
Army engineers also regularly adapted commercial cranes and trucks into mobile bridging systems for flood relief and operations in high-altitude zones – quick, local solutions that proved invaluable during emergencies.
Looking forward, there is significant export potential in jugaad -style life-extension kits, low-cost battlefield management systems, drone jammers, and retrofit packages – particularly for countries still operating Soviet-origin tanks, APCs, and aircraft.
Indian start-ups and state research labs are also blending off-the-shelf components with limited imports to build drones, simulators, and training systems – many of which proved effective during Operation Sindoor.
What this shows is that when jugaad is embedded in a formal engineering framework, it can drive a new model of affordable hybrid innovation. But to scale globally, it must be codified – its ingenuity preserved, but refined into standardised, export-ready packages.
Veterans argue the Ministry of Defence must evolve from a gatekeeper into a facilitator – empowering the private sector, particularly MSMEs and start-ups, to lead in adapting India's jugaad model for international markets.
That shift requires simplifying procurement rules, speeding up export clearances, and investing in documentation and quality control. Only by cutting red tape and backing Indian innovation can the country transform its battlefield experience into a global defence asset.
But unlocking potential ultimately rests with the MoD – still hampered by bureaucracy and risk aversion. Whether it can rise to the moment remains uncertain.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
35 minutes ago
- Hans India
311 more Indian nationals return home, 1428 evacuated from war-hit Iran so far
The Indian government continues to bring back Indian nationals, including students stranded in the war-torn Iran, under the Operation Sindhu. The latest batch of 311 Indians arrived in the national capital via a special flight from Mashhad, even as the tensions escalated to a new high in the Middle East region following the bombing of key Iranian nuclear facilities by the US bomber planes. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to X on Sunday to share an update on India's evacuation drive from Iran under the Operation Sindhu, and also gave exact numbers of evacuees from the war-hit zone. 'Operation Sindhu continues. 311 Indian nationals arrived in New Delhi on a special flight from Mashhad at 16:30 hrs on 22nd June. 1428 Indian nationals have now been evacuated from Iran,' said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, in a tweet. Kashmiri students comprise a large portion of the contingent, being evacuated from the Gulf state. J&K Students Association also thanked the government for the sustained evacuation drive from the conflict-torn zone. 'The Mahan Air flight (W50071A) from Mashhad, Iran, carrying over 280 Indian students, including 200+ from Kashmir, has safely landed in Delhi. A moment of immense relief and joy for families who waited with anxious hearts,' said the J&K Students Association on X. It further said, 'We thank the Ministry of External Affairs, Government authorities and all those officials engaged in the operation for their swift response, tireless coordination, and support in ensuring the safe evacuation of our students from Mashhad, Iran. Your efforts brought our students home.' Meanwhile, the Indian government has taken up the task of evacuating the Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals from the Gulf nation, being hit by Israeli and US strikes. The Embassy of India in Tehran announced on Saturday that citizens of Sri Lanka and Nepal would be evacuated by the Government of India, as per the requests from respective governments.
India.com
42 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet actor who once sold products door to door, one film changed his life, became a star, was called ‘next Shah Rukh Khan', built Rs 1200 core business, he is…
He may have entered Bollywood with Ram Gopal Varma's Company (2002), but Vivek Oberoi's biggest role has unfolded far beyond the silver screen. While many remember him for films like Saathiya and Masti, few know that this actor-turned-entrepreneur built a business empire worth Rs 1200 crore, largely without help, not even from his superstar father, Suresh Oberoi. Despite being born into a film family, Vivek's journey was anything but privileged. In a recent podcast interview, the actor peeled back the layers of his public persona to reveal a sharply honed business mind, one that took root when he was just 10. At an age when most kids were lost in video games, Vivek was busy selling door-to-door and pitching marketing strategies to his father. 'Dad would bring home a product and ask me to make a business plan. Then he'd quiz me — 'How will you sell this?' That's how I learned,' Vivek shared. But there was no silver spoon. In his own words, 'He told me, 'I'm rich. You're not. You'll become rich — but on your own.' The words stuck. By the age of 19, Vivek had already earned $3 million for his first company. He sold it four years later at 23. Today, he claims to have taken nine companies public in the Indian stock market and is preparing to launch four more. On the professional front, Vivek hasn't delivered many hits lately. His last prominent appearance was in PM Narendra Modi (2019), where he played the lead role. In 2024, he appeared in the historical action film Kesari Veer alongside Suniel Shetty and Sooraj Pancholi, though the project didn't make major waves. For now, his film calendar appears empty. But even without a blockbuster, Vivek Oberoi is far from irrelevant. His sharp pivot from screen to stocks has redefined his legacy, one built not on box office numbers but on boardroom deals.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Definitely no politics, but open to coaching India: Sourav Ganguly
Former skipper Sourav Ganguly has categorically ruled out entering politics, but says he is not averse to coaching the Indian team. Ganguly, who will turn 53 this July, was the Team Director of Delhi Capitals between 2018-19 and 2022-24. "I never really thought about it because I got into different roles," Ganguly told PTI in a free-wheeling podcast interview when asked if he would like to coach the Indian team. "I finished (competitive cricket) in 2013 and then became Board (BCCI) President," said Ganguly, noting that his biggest contribution to Indian cricket in that role was to promote women's cricket. When suggested that he could have contributed more by becoming India coach, Ganguly said: "We'll see what the future holds. I'm just 50 (53), so let's see what happens. I'm open to it. We'll see where it goes," the veteran cricket. Live Events One thing he is not getting into is politics. Asked if he would like to join a political party ahead of West Bengal assembly elections in 2026, Ganguly said with a smile: " I am not interested." What if he is promised the state chief minister's post? "I am not interested," he repeated. Asked which party he would like to join if he has a choice, Ganguly said he has never thought about that. "It's not as easy as you say. I get the opportunity (to enter politics) every year but I don't think that's my cup of tea. I have no interest in politics, I just observe because a country and a states' progress is directly attached to people who run it." Ganguly was all praise for incumbent coach Gautam Gambhir , who he feels, has picked up pace as coach since Champions Trophy victory in Dubai earlier this year. "Gautam (Gambhir) is doing a good job. He started off a little slow, losing to Australia and New Zealand, but he picked up with the Champions Trophy. This is going to be a big series (vs England)," Ganguly said. Asked how astute a tactician Gambhir is, Ganguly praised the southpaw's passion and his ability to express his opinions in a straight forward manner. "I haven't seen him from very close in this role, but I know he is very passionate. I haven't observed his strategies closely because I haven't worked with him as a coach. "He's very straightforward, he sees things clearly, and he's very open about what he feels, about the team, players, people, everything. From the outside, you can tell he's a very transparent person - what you see is what you get." Ganguly recollected his playing days when he found Gambhir to be very respectful towards senior. "I've played with him. He was a great guy with a lot of respect for me and the senior players. Even now, I can see he is extremely passionate about his job." Ganguly also feels that with just a year into the job, Gambhir should be allowed time to grow as a coach and learn with passage of time. "I wish him all the best. He's just a year into the job, and this will be an important (England) tour. He struggled a bit in Australia, but just like everyone else, he'll learn, he'll grow, and he'll become better." Ganguly revealed that by the end of 2026 his biopic will release and Rajkumar Rao will be the protagonist. "The shooting will start in January, the pre-production, scripting and story writing takes a lot of time, shooting does not take much time," he said.
