India Defence Production: India is moving fast toward producing nearly all its defence equipment at home. DRDO Chairman Dr. Sameer V. Kamat said he believes the country will reach 90% self-reliance in defence manufacturing within the next four to five years.
“I estimate that in the next 4–5 years, we will achieve around 90% self-reliance in defence production,” Kamat said. “While 100% domestic production isn’t economically viable—since we must cater to our own needs and remain relevant globally. India is considered as the neutral player so we can supply to the USA, Russia, and Southeast Asia. It is only we have to recognise niche technology and products that we can manufacture and become a global supplier.”
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While speaking to Outlook, He explained that India’s strong position in global politics and growing defence industry will help it become a major supplier of military equipment to countries like the U.S., Russia, and Southeast Asian nations.
Kamat pointed out that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are one of the most promising areas for Indian defence startups.
“The UAV space has really taken off,” he said. “Recent wars have demonstrated that UAVs will remain a critical component on the battlefield for the next 5–10 years. They have diverse applications—ranging from surveillance and logistics to weapons deployment.”
He warned that the drone market will not stay open forever saying “However, In the next decade, anti-UAV technologies will begin to dominate space. So, it’s not a long runway—if you’re quick to capture the market, now is the time to get involved.”
Kamat also talked about sensors, which is another important field where Indian startups can innovate. Sensors have many uses in defence from detecting enemy movements to guiding missiles.
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He also highlighted space technology as a critical area, especially after lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war.
“In the initial days, Russia disabled Ukraine’s communication systems, but Starlink was able to quickly restore connectivity using its LEO satellites,” he said. “This highlights the strategic importance of space-based systems, and we want Indian startups to actively explore and innovate in this segment.”
Kamat spoke about DRDO’s ‘Dare to Dream’ contest, which helps startups turn their ideas into real defence products. From next year, venture capitalists will also join the program to give startups more funding opportunities. This will help young companies grow faster and bring new technologies to the market.
