Maritronics India, a marine equipment and spare parts supplier, announced its entry into specialised equipment manufacture for the defence sector.

In a statement, the firm stated that it is in the midst of establishing its own manufacturing plant in Chennai, which is scheduled to begin production within the next year.

This is a significant step towards reducing dependency on imports in the defence sector, which often get impacted owing to geopolitical uncertainties, it said.

To strengthen its manufacturing capabilities, the company has signed an initial pact with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) to jointly develop and market navigation, communication, and automation equipment for marine vessels for the domestic defence market.

"We are confident that the integrated communication and navigation systems developed by us will become a significant asset for the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard," Maritronics India Pvt Ltd Director Venkatesan N said.