India's defence production hit a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY26, nearly quadrupling since 2013-14. Driven by the Aatmanirbhar Bharat program and a robust budget, this growth reflects a burgeoning defence-industrial ecosystem with increased private sector involvement and record exports, signaling India's emergence as a significant defence manufacturing power.
India's defence production reached an unprecedented Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY26, a 15.6% increase from the previous year. This marks a near quadrupling in a decade, driven by the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and significant budget allocations for modernization. The private sector's contribution also grew to 24%.
India's defence production reached an all-time high of Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, a 15.6% increase from the previous year. This growth, driven by indigenous manufacturing and private sector involvement, also saw defence exports hit a record Rs 38,424 crore.
US President Donald Trump invoked the Defence Production Act to boost weapons stockpiles, amid concerns over strains from the Iran war and other conflicts. A related MOU aims to end the 109-day war impacting the Strait of Hormuz, energy prices, and inflation. China also expressed readiness to coordinate with Pakistan for peace and a ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump invoked the Defence Production Act to bolster weapons stockpiles, amid concerns over strains from the war in Iran and other conflicts. A related MOU aims to end a 109-day war impacting the Strait of Hormuz and energy prices.
President Trump invoked the Defence Production Act to address "systemic constraints in the munitions industrial base," aiming to bolster depleted US weapons stockpiles strained by conflicts like the 15-week Iran war. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is tasked with creating voluntary agreements to improve capacity, despite his previous assertions that concerns over munitions are overstated.
UK manufacturers face a "heavy drag" on competitiveness due to the highest electricity prices in the G7. Make UK and TUC call for expanded government relief, costing £3bn, to cover all manufacturers, as current schemes are too narrow.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Larsen & Tubro's Hazira plant, a major defense manufacturing facility. The plant is crucial for producing K-9 Vajra artillery guns and the new Zorawar light tank, with potential for future infantry combat vehicles.
India's DRDO successfully completed final trials of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in both air-to-ground and air-to-air modes. The missile, developed entirely within India's domestic defense ecosystem, demonstrated anti-tank and airborne target strike capabilities, marking a milestone for self-reliance in defense.
Japan has offered India design plans for Mogami-class frigates, the first time Tokyo has provided such a major weapons system to New Delhi. India plans to build the warships in domestic shipyards using Japanese materials, with each vessel costing approximately US$500 million and equipped with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles and torpedoes. The move aligns with India's push to localize defence production and enhance its naval capabilities as a security provider in the Indian Ocean. Japan's cabinet revised export rules on April 21 to allow such defence technology transfers.
