The indigenous edge: Rise of India’s self-reliance in defence

India’s defence story is quietly undergoing a transformation. And it’s worth paying attention
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In a world where conflict can flare up without warning, building strong homegrown defence capabilities becomes absolutely critical. And India seems to have taken that seriously. For instance, India’s defence production reached INR1.27 lakh crore in FY24, marking a 174 per cent increase over the past��decade.¹��

We have been making steady progress-not just in headlines but on the ground. Under the larger ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat�� push, we have gone from heavily relying on imports to rolling out impressive indigenous systems.��

Take the recent conflict that tested our preparedness. Indigenously developed defence systems played a pivotal role in safeguarding India against multiple simultaneous threats.��

Let’s look at a few examples

BrahMos missile

Built through a joint venture with Russia, now largely indigenised. It is fast and precise and has played a key role in recent precision strikes.��

Going ahead, with the newly inaugurated production facility in Lucknow, part of the UP Defence Corridor, India can produce 80��100 BrahMos missiles and 100��150 next-gen variants annually.^2��This not only strengthens our tactical edge but also signals just how far we have come in building scalable, high-impact missile capabilities. It can ensure that domestic needs are met while also tapping into the growing global demand for advanced defence equipment.
Akash missile system

Proudly Indian, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with 96 per cent indigenous content—making it one of the most locally built advanced weapon systems in the country.³

As a part of its planning and production process, over 250 Indian industries have been actively involved in producing various subsystems and��components.⁴��When put to test recently, Akash precisely intercepted ariel threats when it mattered the most. Going ahead, the DRDO is actively working on advanced variants to enhance the system’s overall capabilities and extend its operational range
D4 anti-drone system

Also DRDO-developed. Played a huge role in spotting and neutralising drone threats in real time.

In response to the evolving threat of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), DRDO developed the D4 system, capable of detecting, tracking and neutralising drones using both soft kill (jamming) and hard kill (laser) methods. Advancing R&D capabilities have been crucial in developing this system with contributions from DRDO laboratories across Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Dehradun.

Bottom line

India is moving steadily towards a strong, self-reliant defence manufacturing system, built on global partnerships and local innovation. To continue this progress, we need to invest more in R&D, build stronger local supply chains and form deeper global ties, helping us not just meet today’s needs but lead tomorrow.��

^[1] Make in India powers defence growth, PIB, Ministry of Defence, 24 March 2025, accessed on 19 May 2025

^[2] BrahMos integration and testing facility in Lucknow as India boosts defence production, NITT, 12 May 2025, accessed on 19 May 2025

^[3] India offers UAE the Akash missile system, 10 April 2025, accessed on 19 May 2025

^[4] Akash missile flight tested successfully in very low altitude near range mission, PIB, Ministry of Defence, 18 June 2014, accessed on 19 May 2025