India's Defence Transformation Showcased at 15th Aero India in Bengaluru

The Raksha Mantri elaborated on the drastic changes in India's defence manufacturing landscape. A decade ago, 65-70% of India's defence equipment was imported.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, addressing the Valedictory event of the 15th edition of Aero India, underscored India's revolutionary progress in defence innovation and aerospace technology. The event, held in Bengaluru, marked a significant milestone in India's journey towards becoming a global leader in these sectors.

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that the philosophy of self-reliance, initially introduced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as part of a holistic national empowerment strategy, has evolved into a national spirit, progressing towards a national resolution and revolution. This transformation was evident in the energy and enthusiasm displayed at Aero India 2025, with increasing participation from both domestic and global exhibitors.

Dramatic Shift in Defence Manufacturing

The Raksha Mantri elaborated on the drastic changes in India's defence manufacturing landscape. A decade ago, 65-70% of India's defence equipment was imported. Today, nearly the same percentage of weapons and platforms are manufactured domestically. This includes a wide array of products from small artillery to major platforms like the BrahMos and Akash missile systems, which are now being exported to multiple countries. Shri Rajnath Singh attributed this success to new global partnerships and an increase in defence exports.

Robust Defence Industrial Complex

India's defence industrial complex now comprises 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), 430 licensed companies, and about 16,000 MSMEs. The private sector, contributing 21% to total defence production, plays an increasingly significant role in achieving self-reliance. Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized the Government's commitment to supporting both public and private sectors through revised Defence Acquisition Procedures and initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), and the Technology Development Fund (TDF).

The Role of Armed Forces in Self-Reliance

Stressing the critical role of the Armed Forces in the country's pursuit of self-reliance, Shri Rajnath Singh stated, "National security is of utmost importance, and there is no scope for any compromise." He lauded the Armed Forces for their trust in indigenously-manufactured defence products, asserting that this trust forms the foundation of India's growing Defence Industrial Complex.

Aero India 2025: A Glimpse into the Future

Shri Rajnath Singh noted that Aero India 2025 has demonstrated the vast potential of India's defence and aerospace sectors, extending beyond traditional boundaries. The event fostered deeper engagements among participating companies, laying the groundwork for future collaborations.

'Samarthya' Indigenisation Event Highlights

Earlier, Shri Rajnath Singh attended the 'Samarthya' indigenisation event, a first-of-its-kind showcase at Aero India. The event displayed 33 major indigenously-developed items, including contributions from DPSUs, DRDO, the Indian Navy, and nine innovation projects from iDEX. Notable items included:

• ELECTRO BLOCK of Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun
• Electric Mobile Part for submarines
• Torsion Bar Suspension of HMV 6x6
• Extruded Aluminium Alloy components for LCA MK-I/II and LCH
• RudraM II Missile
• Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range
• C4ISR System
• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology for secure communications
• AI/ML-based Analytical and Decision Support Platforms (DeepDarshak)

Key Publications Released

During the event, three significant publications were released:

1. Coffee Table Booklet 'Samarthya': Highlighting the journey of indigenisation led by the Department of Defence Production.
2. Compendium of Problem Definition Statements (CPDS) 2025: Featuring 82 problem statements across 11 functional domains of warfare, aimed at bridging operational challenges with innovative solutions from academia, industry start-ups, and research institutions.
3. HQ IDS Booklet: Providing insights into conducting multi-domain operations in a data-centric environment amidst emerging transformative technologies.

The CPDS aims to foster direct engagement between the Indian defence ecosystem and the Armed Forces, accelerating the research and deployment of technologies tailored to military needs.

Recognition of Contributions

Employees and industry partners associated with DPSUs, DRDO, and the Services, who played a significant role in indigenising the displayed items, were felicitated at the event.

Dignitaries Present

The event was attended by distinguished personalities, including Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar.

In his closing remarks, Shri Rajnath Singh expressed gratitude to all participants of the 15th Aero India and voiced optimism that the event would pave the way for many successful, collaborative ventures in the future, reinforcing India's position as a leader in global defence and aerospace technology.