Window of Opportunity

India's emergence as a serious player in the global defence-technology landscape is not a matter of aspiration, it is a geopolitical and economic necessity.

- ASHOK ATLURI

As the global order tilts toward multipolarity, new regional alliances and asymmetric threats, countries are reassessing their defence partnerships.

Procurement decisions are no longer driven by legacy alliances or familiar original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) alone; they are shaped by urgency, adaptability and the capacity to deliver mission-ready systems in compressed timelines.

India's defence exports have surged from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024-25, reflecting a 34-fold growth and signalling a fundamental shift in how Indian systems are perceived globally.

The target of achieving ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029 may seem ambitious, but it is within reach—provided we stop treating defence exports as a by-product of procurement success and start positioning them as a strategic pillar of national power.

India already possesses the essential building blocks. Years of investment in indigenous R&D, improved frameworks like the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy and the growing maturity of firms operating in electronic warfare, simulation, C4ISR [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] and counter-drone technology have shifted the ecosystem from intention to capability. What remains is the leap from capability to competitive, credible and consistent global supply.

Choosing the Right Tech