NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 9
India cannot secure its strategic future by depending on foreign suppliers for the weapons, technologies and critical systems needed to defend its borders. Delivering this unmistakable message to the domestic defence industry, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for a decisive expansion of private sector participation, research and development (R&D), indigenous innovation and emergency production capacity, positioning industrial self-reliance as a cornerstone of national security.
Addressing the 8th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi on Friday, the Defence Minister presented the SIDM Champion Awards 2026, honouring 15 achievements across indigenous technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and exports. He urged the industry to move beyond incremental progress and build the capabilities required to make India a globally competitive defence manufacturing power.
- Defence Minister urges private sector to raise its share of defence production from 24% to 50%
- India’s defence exports hit a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26, surging over 60%
- ₹50,000-crore export target set for 2029 as India pursues global defence leadership
- SIDM Champion Awards 2026 honour 15 achievements in indigenous technology, innovation and manufacturing
- Operation Sindoor underscores the need for surge capacity and rapid production during national emergencies
- Rajnath Singh calls for greater R&D investment to master emerging technologies and strengthen strategic autonomy
“National security increasingly depends on the country’s ability to design, develop, manufacture and control the technologies and equipment required by our Defence Forces,” Rajnath Singh said, expressing confidence that India’s talent pool, young workforce, industrial capabilities and policy support would propel the country towards global leadership in defence manufacturing.
Exports soar, but the ambition must grow
Highlighting India’s transformation from a major importer of defence equipment into a credible exporter of sophisticated military hardware, Defence Minister pointed to a record achievement in overseas sales.
“Marking a historic milestone, India’s defence exports have reached a record ₹38,424 crore in the FY 2025–26, registering growth of over 60% compared with the previous financial year,” he said.
The government has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029. Achieving it will require manufacturers to expand production, improve technological sophistication, strengthen global competitiveness and develop products capable of meeting demanding international requirements.
The export surge marks a significant milestone, but sustaining the momentum will depend on the industry’s ability to combine indigenous design with consistent quality, reliable delivery and continuous innovation.
Private industry urged to aim for 50% share
Calling for a more substantial private sector role in defence manufacturing, Rajnath Singh recalled his earlier appeal to increase the industry’s contribution from approximately 24% to 50% of India’s total defence production.
He acknowledged the private sector’s progress over the past 12 years and called on industry leaders to establish progressive milestones towards that objective. The government, he assured them, would continue supporting the sector while maintaining essential standards of regulation, safety, quality and accountability.
The message was clear: India’s defence industrial ambitions cannot be realised by the public sector alone. Large manufacturers, MSMEs, startups and technology innovators must work together to create a resilient ecosystem capable of delivering advanced systems at scale.
R&D is a strategic investment, not an expense
Underlining the changing character of modern warfare,Defence Minister cited the growing importance of drones, missiles, air defence systems and rapidly evolving software and communications technologies.
“Defence manufacturers must treat expenditure on R&D as an investment that strengthens operational preparedness, improves competitiveness and contributes to national security,” he said.
The call places technological innovation at the heart of India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy. Sustained investment in research, indigenous design and advanced manufacturing will be critical to reducing dependence on imported technologies and enabling domestic companies to respond to emerging operational requirements.
Operation Sindoor lesson: Scale up when the nation needs it
Drawing attention to the lessons of Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh stressed the need for domestic manufacturing facilities to scale up rapidly when operational circumstances demand it.
He urged defence manufacturers to develop innovative ways to expand production capacity and respond swiftly to changing requirements. The emphasis on surge capacity reflects a vital national-security consideration: the ability to manufacture critical equipment in sufficient quantities and within demanding timelines can be as important as the sophistication of the technology itself.
For industry, this calls for stronger supply chains, resilient production systems and the ability to accommodate sudden increases in demand without compromising quality.
Policy reforms aim to deepen indigenous capabilities
Established in 2017, SIDM has evolved into a common platform representing large enterprises, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups, academia and foreign original equipment manufacturers.
The Defence Minister highlighted government initiatives designed to strengthen the domestic defence industrial ecosystem and broaden private sector participation. These include the Defence Acquisition Procedure, Defence Procurement Manual, Positive Indigenisation Lists, the SRIJAN portal and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
He also acknowledged SIDM’s role in facilitating dialogue between policymakers and industry, helping translate national defence priorities into industrial opportunities.
The annual session, themed “Sovereign Capabilities, Contested Frontiers: Accelerating India’s Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Disruption,” focused on strengthening the country’s capacity to develop and manufacture the technologies essential to its defence preparedness.
The 15 SIDM Champion Awards recognised organisations whose contributions are advancing indigenous technology, product design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and export performance—areas central to India’s long-term defence ambitions.
The event was attended by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu, SIDM Founder President Baba Kalyani, SIDM President Arun Ramchandani, senior government officials, representatives of the Defence Forces, and leaders of Indian and international defence companies.