🇮🇳 India’s Defence Sector: From Imports to Self-Reliance

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India’s defence sector is undergoing a strategic transformation—balancing its status as the world’s top arms importer with a fast-growing export footprint and robust domestic production. Here's the latest snapshot:

• India remains the largest global arms importer (2019–23), accounting for 9.8% of total global imports.
• Despite a 33% drop in imports from 2011–15 to 2016–20, dependency remains high.
• Russia leads as India’s top supplier (36%), followed by France (33%) and Israel (13%).
• India is negotiating further deliveries of the S-400 Triumf missile system from Russia to bolster air defence.

🚀 2. Exports: A Strategic Leap Forward

• Defence exports rose from ₹686 crore in FY 2013–14 to ₹23,622 crore (~$2.76 billion) in FY 2024–25—a 34-fold increase.
• FY 2023–24 alone saw exports of ₹21,083 crore, up 25% YoY.
• Q1 FY 2024–25 exports surged 78% to ₹6,915 crore.
• India now exports to 100+ countries, including the U.S., France, Armenia, and others.
• Exported items include Dornier-228 aircraft, BrahMos missiles, Akash SAM systems, Pinaka rockets, radars, and armoured vehicles.

🏭 3. Domestic Production & Policy Push

• FY 2023–24 defence production hit ₹1.27 lakh crore (~$15B), up 16.7% YoY and 60% from FY 2019–20.
• 75% of capital procurement in the 2024–25 Budget is earmarked for Indian manufacturers.
• Defence Industrial Corridors in UP and Tamil Nadu have attracted ₹8,658 crore in investments, with 253 MoUs promising ₹53,439 crore.
• Policies like DAP 2020, Positive Indigenisation Lists, and iDEX are driving MSME and private-sector participation.

✨ 4. Sector Highlights & Strategic Initiatives

• The Ordnance Factory Board’s successor firms recorded ₹3,545 crore in exports.
• At Aero India 2025, India announced ₹1.25 trillion in domestic production and ₹21,000 crore in expected exports.
• A ₹30,000 crore UAV procurement deal was approved, with local production boosting export potential.
• The Akash missile system is now exported to Armenia, with deals underway with the Philippines and UAE.

📊 Summary Snapshot

India’s defence sector is now backed by:

• Revised Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP 2020)
• Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020
• Green Channel Status (GCS) for private firms
• Active participation from top Indian companies like BEL, HAL, BDL, Paras Defence, Data Patterns, IdeaForge, MDL, CSL