With India set to import defence equipment worth $45 billion in the next five years, the Centre has decided to make it mandatory that all imported defence equipment have at least 30 per cent indigenous components, a top defence scientist said.

"If the Centre's decision is implemented, Indian industry will get a business to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore every year. Indian industry should gear up to meet the challenge," Defence Research and Development Organisation Chief A Sivathanu Pillai said.

However, this could be done only if the industry delivers quality components on time and at competitive rates. He said that the BrahMos missile, developed by DRDO in collaboration with Russia [Images], has good demand abroad as it is internationally competitive.

He said the BrahMos missile was the fastest operational cruise missile in the world and could be launched from land, air or sea to precisely hit the target with lethal effect. Vijay Shrikrishna Sohoni, president of the Council of Architecture, said designers should ensure that their work was sustainable; otherwise, their products would not find buyers.