India Strengthens Defence Export Drive Post-Operation Sindoor

India’s defence manufacturing and export sector is entering a new era of growth and global recognition, accelerated by recent military developments and strategic government initiatives. The brief 2025 military engagement with Pakistan, known as Operation Sindoor, showcased India’s indigenous defence technology—such as BrahMos cruise missiles, drones, and the Akash surface-to-air missile system—strengthening international confidence in “Make in India” defence products. This real-world validation has energized India’s ambitions to transform from a leading importer to a major exporter of defence equipment.

The next-generation BrahMos supersonic missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is also on Brazil’s radar.. Representational image: Wikimedia Commons | Firstpost

Growing Ambitions and Expanding Reach

The Indian government has set an ambitious target to more than double its defence exports from approximately ₹23,600 crore (around US $2.76 billion) in the fiscal year 2024–25 to ₹50,000 crore (US $5.8 billion) by 2029. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized this goal, underscoring the vision to scale domestic defence production to ₹3 lakh crore by the same year. India currently supplies military hardware and equipment to over 90 countries, ranging from bulletproof vests to advanced missile systems, marking a significant transformation in its global defence posture.

This evolution reflects a carefully planned trajectory aimed at reducing India’s historical reliance on foreign arms imports and increasing self-reliance while expanding into international markets. The success of recent military operations that employed domestically developed systems has proven to be a potent marketing tool in foreign defence markets.

Policy Support and Industrial Ecosystem

India’s export surge is supported by a comprehensive set of policy reforms and industrial initiatives designed to foster indigenous defence manufacturing. The Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 promotes preferential procurement from domestic companies by banning the import of over 100 military items and encouraging the development and production of indigenous systems. This “positive indigenisation list” ensures that critical components and platforms are manufactured locally, building a robust supply chain.

The innovation ecosystem is further strengthened by the government-backed iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) program, which supports startups and small to medium enterprises with grants and contracts to develop cutting-edge technologies. In just one cycle, iDEX addressed over 500 defence challenges, providing a fertile ground for innovation.

Major private sector players like Tata, Adani, Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Forge have aggressively expanded their capabilities in drones, missile systems, naval equipment, and aerospace components. Their active participation marks a departure from the government-dominated defence manufacturing model of the past and reflects a new era of public-private partnership.

Flagship Indigenous Systems Make Global Inroads

Several indigenous Indian defence products have begun carving out space in global markets. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between India and Russia, has been successfully exported to the Philippines, with ongoing negotiations in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Armenia. This system’s deployment during Operation Sindoor significantly enhanced its credibility.

The Akash surface-to-air missile system has been delivered to Armenia and attracted interest from countries like Sudan, the UAE, Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Other platforms, including the Pinaka rocket artillery, Swathi radars, and lightweight torpedoes, further diversify India’s export portfolio.

India’s indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas, is also under consideration by several countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. While no large export orders have materialized yet, ongoing talks and demonstrations reflect growing interest in the platform.

Collaborations and Future Technologies

Strategic collaborations with global partners are vital to India’s defence ambitions. A high-profile ₹61,000 crore deal with France aims to co-develop next-generation jet engines, crucial for powering future fighter aircraft. Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems are collaborating to produce Rafale fighter jet fuselages in Hyderabad, supporting both India’s domestic fleet and potential exports.

Further, India is developing the Project Kusha air defence system, considered an indigenous equivalent to the Russian S-400, expected to be operational by 2028–29. Such advancements aim to fill critical technological gaps and strengthen India’s position as a comprehensive defence equipment supplier.

Challenges on the Path Ahead

Despite notable progress, India faces significant challenges in scaling its defence exports. Technical gaps remain, particularly in areas like avionics, engine technology, and sensors, which are still behind those of established Western and Russian manufacturers. Additionally, India has yet to secure transformative, large-scale export contracts, as evidenced by Malaysia awarding a contract for fighter jets to South Korea over India’s Tejas.

Bureaucratic delays and a shortage of skilled personnel also threaten to slow down the pace of growth despite government efforts to streamline procurement and promote innovation. The intense competition from established global arms exporters—France, Israel, Russia, China, and Turkey—means India must continuously enhance both the quality and cost-effectiveness of its offerings.

Conclusion

The recent military engagement with Pakistan, Operation Sindoor, served as a live-fire endorsement of India’s indigenous defence capabilities, significantly boosting the country’s defence export narrative. Supported by bold government targets, extensive policy reforms, increasing private sector involvement, and international collaborations, India is poised to emerge as a major player in the global defence market.

Achieving the ambitious export goal of ₹50,000 crore by 2029 will require overcoming technological challenges and securing landmark deals on the global stage. Nonetheless, India’s steady rise as a reliable defence supplier marks a fundamental shift in its strategic and economic posture, with wide-ranging implications for regional and global defence dynamics.

(Sources: Firstpost, PIB, Economic Times)