The End of the Import-Only Era
If you’re still thinking of India as a defence importer, it’s time to rewrite the narrative.
In FY25, India cleared a record ₹1.6 lakh crore in defence approvals. Procurement is now faster by 10–15%—because modern warfare doesn’t wait. The Navy is getting 26 Rafale fighter jets (₹63,000 crore), while ₹40,000 crore has been earmarked for emergency buys—think kamikaze drones, air defences, and loitering munitions. DRDO is already cooking up 5th-gen deck-based fighters.
Big Buys and Tactical Upgrades
The momentum doesn’t stop there:
₹54,000 crore worth of proposals just got green-lit—engines for T-90 tanks, Netra radar systems for the IAF, and Varunastra torpedoes for the Navy. Add to that 307 ATAGS artillery guns worth ₹7,000 crore.
From Imports to Exports: India Steps Up
Meanwhile, India’s defence exports are in liftoff mode—up 26x since 2015. From BrahMos missiles and Dornier aircraft to fuses for Boeing and Lockheed Martin, India is exporting both parts and whole platforms. Armenia now buys complete Indian weapon systems—artillery, air defence, rocket launchers, and night gear.
Rising Domestic Manufacturing Power
Domestic production? Up 7.5x in a decade. From ₹0.4 trillion in FY15 to ₹1.2 trillion now, targeting ₹3 trillion by 2029.
The Engine Behind the Growth: Defence Corridors
The catalyst? Projects like the UP-Defence Corridor—₹250 billion in investment, 154 MoUs, and 40,000 jobs. India’s military industry isn’t just catching up—it’s taking the lead.
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