India's Rise as a Trusted Defence Supplier: A New Era of Global Cooperation

India's Defence Export Strategy: A New Era of Global Cooperation

India's emergence as a trusted global defence supplier marks a significant shift in the country's approach to defence exports. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh outlined India's strategy, built on democratic traditions, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. He stressed national unity, collective security responsibility, and inclusive development.

India's growing role as a trusted partner in the Global South focuses on respect, dialogue, prosperity, security, and culture as key strategic pillars. The country's defence exports have grown significantly, with a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, reaching more than 100 countries. India has set a target of ₹50,000 crore by 2029, reflecting global confidence in Indian technology, quality, and delivery capabilities.

The nature of warfare is rapidly changing, with modern conflicts extending beyond conventional domains to cyber, space, electronic, and information warfare, alongside emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, drones, autonomous systems, quantum technology, and hypersonic systems. India needs to develop future-ready capabilities across these domains.

To address strategic vulnerabilities in areas such as technology, energy, data, and supply chains, initiatives are underway to strengthen domestic capabilities in semiconductors and critical minerals, diversify energy sources, and enhance energy security. The Raksha Mantri highlighted the importance of self-reliance, stating that 509 defence equipment, weapon systems, and platforms have been included in five positive indigenisation lists issued by the Armed Forces.

DPSUs have also released six indigenisation lists covering 5,417 items, including strategically important LRUs, subsystems, spares, and components, of which around 3,300 have been indigenised. The growing participation of the private sector, startups, and MSMEs in defence manufacturing is a significant development. India's defence ecosystem now includes DPSUs, private industries, more than 16,000 MSMEs, startups, universities, and research institutions, with defence manufacturing capabilities emerging across several regions of the country.

The SRIJAN and SRIJAN DEEP portals are playing a crucial role in strengthening indigenous defence supply chains. Around 33,000 imported items have been indigenised, and investment proposals of about ₹70,000 crore have been received in the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridors, with around ₹10,000 crore already invested.

India's defence export strategy is built on the principles of respect, dialogue, prosperity, security, and culture. The country's growing role as a trusted partner in the Global South reflects its commitment to these principles. As India continues to emerge as a trusted global defence supplier, it is likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping the global defence landscape.

India's defence export strategy is a significant development, marking a shift in the country's approach to defence exports. The country's growing role as a trusted partner in the Global South reflects its commitment to the principles of respect, dialogue, prosperity, security, and culture. As India continues to emerge as a trusted global defence supplier, it is likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping the global defence landscape.