Defence production hits Rs 1.78 lakh crore, says Rajnath Singh
The Defence Minister set production and export targets for 2029 during the third Delhi Defence Dialogue.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, according to the Times of India.
Speaking at the third Delhi Defence Dialogue held at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), Singh said exports have climbed to Rs 38,424 crore, with Indian goods supplied to over 80 countries.
The government aims to achieve Rs 3 lakh crore in production and Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029. This would represent an increase of nearly 70 per cent in production and 30 per cent in exports compared to current levels.
Singh described four pillars for progress: reforms, Aatmanirbharta, international collaboration, and exports. He said Aatmanirbharta should be viewed as a pursuit of technological sovereignty rather than just domestic manufacturing.
The minister called for increased private sector involvement in programmes such as shipbuilding, artillery ammunition, propulsion systems, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. He noted that MSMEs, start-ups, and academia should also participate.
Navy chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan also spoke at the event, describing self-reliance in naval systems as a strategic necessity. He said India must be able to fight and adapt without being limited by external dependencies.