India Defence Export Target 2026: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that India is confident its defence exports will touch Rs 30,000 crore by March 2026. He shared this while speaking at the annual meeting of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi. Singh praised the growing power of India’s homegrown defence industry and said that the use of Indian-made equipment in recent missions has made the country proud.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Strength
Singh spoke about Operation Sindoor and said it proved how strong and reliable Indian-made defence systems have become. “The effective use of Made-in-India equipment by the Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor bolstered India’s reputation both regionally and internationally,” he said. He also gave credit to both the armed forces and the “industry warriors” who worked hard to create and improve local defence technology, reported Ministry of Defence.
Sagar Defence partners with DRDO to build advanced ordnance-handling robot UXOR
He pointed out that India’s defence production has seen a huge jump in the past decade. In 2014, the production value was around Rs 46,000 crore, but now it has reached Rs 1.51 lakh crore. Exports, which were below Rs 1,000 crore a few years ago, now stand at about Rs 24,000 crore. This, Singh said, is a sign of India’s growing ability to make advanced defence equipment and compete with global players.
Push for More Local Manufacturing
The Defence Minister asked Indian companies to focus more on building their own subsystems and components instead of just assembling full platforms. He said this step will help India control its supply chains and reduce costs in the long run.
“In today’s times, when we purchase major equipment from abroad, its maintenance, repair, overhaul, and spare parts management have significant financial implications throughout its life cycle,” he said. Singh added that India’s goal is to build a strong base for products that are “Made in India, Made for the World.”
He explained that the government is trying to make the defence sector fair and open for everyone. At present, private companies make up around Rs 33,000 crore of the total defence production, which is about 25%. he urged them to increase this share to at least 50% within the next three years.
Govt approves 30-day Diwali bonus for defence personnel for FY 2024-25
Government’s Support for Industry
Rajnath Singh also encouraged the industry to create large-scale, advanced technology products on their own. He assured that the government will fully support companies that work toward innovation and expansion.
