STRATEGIC DEFENCE MANUFACTURING: A VISION FOR INDIA

India's defence sector is undergoing a significant transformation. Industry leaders are examining how innovation, local manufacturing, and collaboration are defining India's journey towards self-reliance and global prominence in defence.

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As global dynamics continue to evolve—for India and the world at large—the need for a robust strategic defence framework has never been more vital. A panel of distinguished figures from the aerospace and defence sectors, including—Amit Mahajan, Director at Paras Defence & Space Technologies Ltd; Amit Takte, CTO at DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations Ltd; and Mahavir Kanwade, COO at Aethrone Aerospace Pvt. Ltd—gathered to explore this imperative. The discussion, titled Strategic Defence Manufacturing: A Vision for India, was moderated by Nisha Shukla, Senior Assistant Editor at ET Now Machinist and ET Now Polymers.

Shukla opened the session by asking how far India has progressed in aerospace and defence manufacturing—particularly in achieving self-reliance and technological advancement. “We speak so often of ‘Make in India’, but where do we actually stand?” she questioned.

Responding to the question, Mahajan expressed both optimism and realism. “I must say I'm very pleasantly surprised to see defence manufacturing being given space in this forum. It’s a sign of where technology is headed—defence will be at the forefront of innovation,” he began.

He acknowledged that while there is still significant ground to cover, the pace of progress has exceeded expectations. “In terms of self-reliance, we still have a lot to achieve. That said, we're moving much faster than anticipated—in innovation, in developing advanced systems, and in asserting ourselves on the global stage,” Mahajan noted.