Seeds of self-reliance and technological innovation have led to laying firm foundation for Viksit Bharat in defence domain.
Dr G Sateesh Reddy
When India gained independence, pressing need to indigenize defence systems was seriously felt, hitherto completely ignored by the British colonial regime. Bharat of 1950s imported most of its arms and ammunitions from United Kingdom. By the 1960’s, as part of global movement to contain communism, US joined this list by selling arms and ammunition to both India and Pakistan.
By 1970s, India had pivoted to polar opposite, relying on Soviet arms for its defence in 80’s as part of non-aligned movement. Through these three decades, there was an Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, better known as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Today, we remember him posthumously as eleventh President of India. But, he was once just a school going kid in British India. He was 16 years old when he saw India declare independence and turned 19 when she became a republic. The urge to defend himself, his loved ones and see his country defending its freedom, all constituted Abdul Kalam’s foundational years, and his perspective on defence and self-reliance.
Bharat’s journey towards self-reliance in defence did not start with flashy policy announcements or billion-dollar deals. It began in dusty labs and testing grounds where a soft-spoken space scientist turned defence guy named Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam who dreamed of technology leap-frog in his country. The IGMDP programme to create a range of advanced missiles including Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Aakash and Nag was his way of this movement forward.
Known affectionately as “Missile Man of India,” Dr Kalam was not just building rockets; he was laying the foundation for a nation that could stand on its own in a world full of uncertainties. Clearly, his work in 1980s was built with a vision for twenty first century.
As we look back, it is clear how Indian government has fanned those flames into roaring ‘wings of fire’, pushing defence modernization into overdrive across every branch of Armed Forces. From cutting-edge R&D to booming manufacturing, India’s defence ecosystem is transforming, turning the country from a major importer to an emerging exporter.
The last ten years have witnessed a paradigm shift in Bharat’s defence policy, approach and ecosystem, driven by the government’s commitment to “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant Bharat).”
India’s defence sector has undergone profound transformation driven by a clear governmental vision to achieve strategic autonomy and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. The shift from being one of world’s largest importers to becoming a rising exporter and manufacturer of defence products and services has been orchestrated through a clutch of policy reforms, infrastructure investments and collaborative initiatives involving both public and private stakeholders.
At the heart of this transformation lies government’s flagship “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, that placed defence manufacturing at the forefront of national development. Complementing this is the “Make in India” campaign, launched in 2014, which has galvanized domestic production across sectors. As a result, India’s defence production has surged from Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 to a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2025 with the private sector contributing over Rs 33,000 crore, a clear indication of its growing role in the ecosystem.
To streamline procurement and promote indigenous manufacturing, the government introduced Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. This policy prioritizes domestic sourcing and includes Positive Indigenisation Lists that restrict imports of thousands of items, thereby creating a predictable demand for Indian manufacturers. Additionally, Defence Procurement Manual 2025 and Defence Offsets Policy have been refined to encourage innovation and ease of doing business.
Establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu has further catalyzed growth attracting investments and fostering partnerships between industries and state governments. The government has focused on empowering start-ups and medium, small and micro enterprises through iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and Technology Development Fund. These programs have supported over 650 start-ups with prototype procurements and accounting for more than Rs 3,000 crore, reflecting a vibrant innovation ecosystem. Digital platforms such as SRIJAN-DEEP portal and Defence Exim Portal have enhanced transparency and streamlined export-import processes.
Bharat’s achievements in defence exports are equally noteworthy. From less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014, exports have soared to Rs 23,622 crore in 2025, with targets set at Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. Bharat made platforms and systems like BrahMos missile and Akash air defence system are now being exported to nearly 100 countries showcasing her growing reputation as a reliable defence partner.
Indigenous development has reached new heights with successful deployment of platforms such as Prachand Light Combat Helicopter, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier. Operation Sindoor has reiterated that today many asymmetric technologies are playing a crucial role in modern warfare. And, given that this was an out and out airborne and contactless war fought by leveraging its own indigenously designed and developed weapons, it adds more stars to Indian domestic industry’s repertoire.
Home grown air defence systems and missiles like Akash and BrahMos, indigenously manufactured radars were leveraged during Operation Sindoor. Bharat has reiterated its dominance in missiles segment which began with IGMDP by the visionary Dr Kalam himself.
This underscores the nation’s technical prowess and effectiveness of government support in nurturing complex defence projects. This is not just about numbers; it is about real change. The government has nurtured start-ups through schemes like iDEX and TDF and evolved an ecosystem much more competitive while making it investor and industry friendly.
This fast-tracking across strata of stakeholders from industry to policy makers, has put India’s defence modernization in full swing, touching every segment: army, navy, air force, homeland security and even space and cyber domains.
Modernization today focuses on mobility, firepower and technology integration. Drones are a big push – from surveillance UAVs like Drishti-10 to swarm drones developed under iDEX. Manufacturing has witnessed a significant transformation. Artillery systems, aircraft platforms, missiles systems and ammunition are today not just made in Bharat and inducted into the forces but are being considered for exports to friendly countries.
More importantly these milestones have come in collaboration with the private sector. The private sector’s role has expanded significantly, with companies leading innovation and manufacturing efforts – not just at component, system or subsystem level but even at a platform level.
Indian government’s strategic vision, backed by policy reforms, infrastructure development and inclusive growth models has laid a strong foundation for self-reliant and globally competitive defence sector. Dr Kalam’s soul would be proud and happy in heavens when seeing his legacy take more concrete shape.
Wars today are fought in multi-dimensional domains, replete with technological superiority. For India to have an edge over adversaries, it is important to diligently persevere towards greater heights of technological prowess and capabilities.
As India moves toward its 2047 goal, synergy between public institutions, private enterprises and technological innovation will be crucial in sustaining this momentum and securing the nation’s place as a global defence powerhouse.
(Author was formerly chairman of Defence Research and Development Organization and worked closely with Dr Kalam. Currently, he’s member of national security council)
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