MUMBAI: The Aditya Birla Group has decided to enter the defence sector, following at least seven Indian corporate houses that have ventured into the segment and adding heft to the government’s ‘Make in India ’ initiative.The conglomerate with interests from metals to mobile telephony intends to form JVs with US, Israeli and Russian companies to make components for aerospace and combat vehicles, two people with direct knowledge of the plan said.The Kumar Mangalam Birla controlled group has started exploratory talks with companies such as Lockheed Martin , the world’s largest defence contractor, US helicopter maker Sikorsky and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The $47 billion group has appointed one of the Big Four global consultants to help them with strategies and identify partners.The new division will be led by former strategy head Dev Bhattacharya and will soon start hiring to roll out its plan. An Aditya Birla spokeswoman declined to comment on the foray.Private Indian companies are expanding into defence after the government took several policy measures to encourage the local manufacture of equipment for the country’s armed forces to achieve self-reliance. The steps include allowing foreign direct investment ( FDI ) up to 49% in the defence sector and liberalising the licensing regime for Indian manufacturers.“The Make in India focus, coupled with the easing of defence manufacturing and exports, is making a compelling a case for large Indian business houses to foray into this sector,” said Ankur Gupta, vicepresident, defence, at EY. “The private sector’s belief now needs to be crystallised by the ministry of defence through long-term sustainable orders and the companies themselves forging global supply chain partnerships.”The Aditya Birla Group’s challenge would be to find the right partners to work with on casting and forging, besides making equipment for aerospace as well as combat vehicles.Flagship Hindalco Industries , India’s second-biggest producer of aluminium, has been a supplier to India’s defence equipment makers. Its overseas subsidiary, Novelis, the world’s largest can maker, supplies aluminium to plane makers. Aluminium is extensively used in main battle tanks, missiles, weaponry systems and boats, among others.Other Indian business houses have a head-start over Birla in the defence business. The Tata Group Mahindra & Mahindra, Bharat Forge , L&T, Godrej and the Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Group have started making equipment for India’s defence forces. Adani Group’s Adani Defence Systems & Tech is the latest entrant.The Tata Group has targeted an order book of Rs 10,000 crore from defence for the financial year ending March 2017. Revenue from the sector in 2015-16 increased 7.5% to.`2,650 crore.In the past few months, the Mahindra Group has signed pacts with global companies to make parts of military vehicles, select artillery systems and land-based weaponry. Some analysts say there is still enough room in the defence market for private companies.