India has ushered in a new tempo in the defence sector under the leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India since 2014, and has registered outstanding transformation. India has invited domestic manufacturing industries to participate in indigenous production in the defence sector, which will significantly reduce import dependency. India’s annual budget has seen a substantial rise, reflecting a strong commitment to enhancing defence capabilities.
The ‘Make in India’ campaign incorporates the public sector in defence production, including Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), Chennai; Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL); Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bangalore; Defence Offsets Management Wing (DOMW), Delhi; Export Promotion Cell (EPC), Delhi; Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata; Gliders India Limited, Kanpur; Goa Shipyard Limited; Gun and Shell Factory, Cossipore; Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore; Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam; India Optel Limited, Dehradun; Indigenisation Division, New Delhi; Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai; Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Hyderabad; Munitions India Limited (MIL), Pune; Troop Comforts Limited (TCL), Kanpur; and Yantra India Limited (YIL), Nagpur.
India has also invited the private sector into defence production, including companies such as Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Mahindra Defence Systems, and Tata Group. “The production of transport aircraft (Tata), artillery guns (L&T, Tata, and Bharat Forge), and Pinaka Rocket Launchers (Tata and L&T), along with high-powered radar and close-in weapon systems worth US$1.6 billion (L&T). In addition, the DPSUs, DRDO, and private companies are producing a range of micro, small, and medium-scale defence startups in India” (Ministry of Defence, 2023-2024: 45).
India is projected to reach US$360 billion in defence production by 2029 and aims to establish itself as a global defence manufacturing hub. Defence exports have grown 21 times in the past decade and now reach over 100 countries. The target for 2029 is to increase defence exports to US$12.2 billion, underscoring India’s ambition to become a reliable global defence partner (PIB, 28 July 2025).
Prime Minister Modi has modernized the Department of Defence Production (DDP), focusing on the manufacture of defence equipment, weapons systems, and platforms, including arms and ammunition, tanks, armoured vehicles, fighter aircraft and helicopters, warships, submarines, missiles, electronic equipment, earthmoving machinery, special alloys, and special-purpose steels.
African defence diplomacy was initiated with the appointment of India’s Defence Attachés to various embassies and missions across the African continent starting in 2014. These attachés cover Francophone Western Africa, Eastern Africa, Southeastern Africa, and Southern Africa. Indian missions in Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Egypt, and other countries have been assigned Defence Attachés accordingly. “Keeping maritime security in the Indian Ocean in mind, India focuses on the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Indo-Pacific, and Eurasia” (Kallol Bhattacherjee, 11 April 2024).
Furthermore, Mr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of India, explained that “four countries in Africa have received the Defence Attaché. India is evolving requirements that stretch from defence production and cooperation to dealing with crises in Gaza and Ukraine. The more effective management of Attachés in the East African region is crucial for guarding Indian interests in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean. Recently, Indian marine commandos captured 35 Somali pirates who had hijacked a bulk carrier and taken hostages. The pirates were brought to Mumbai aboard INS Kolkata. The operation occurred amid continued attacks on Western ships by Houthi rebels of Yemen, which has increased the necessity of maintaining a ready defence posture in and around the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean region to safeguard Indian assets and manpower” (S. Jaishankar, 10 April 2024).
President Emmanuel Macron of France visited India in January 2024 and discussed strategic interests in the defence sector. “The focus on Francophone Africa is a new development and indicates growing alignment between Indian and French strategic interests, and they have agreed to work together in ‘third countries’. France has become a major supplier of military hardware to Indian forces, and the relationship between the two countries is expected to remain strong due to high-level political, military, and strategic collaboration” (The Hindu, 10 April 2024).
This joint venture is expected to enhance India’s defence production capabilities across the African continent. Recently, eight public sector and two private sector defence companies from India participated in the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo 2024, showcasing high-quality products such as advanced light helicopters, combat weapons, tank variants, armoured vehicles, mine-protected vehicles, and tank engines. Indian companies are committed to providing end-to-end solutions, not just weapon delivery. They offer product support, industry development, and collaboration with African countries (The Economic Times, 19 September 2024).
African defence diplomacy and maritime security in the Indian Ocean were further strengthened through the Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting between India and South Africa, held in Johannesburg on June 23-24, 2025. The bilateral defence industry cooperation highlighted India’s defence manufacturing interests and export potential to African countries. The JDC also signed agreements on submarine production, technology transfer, cooperation in defence acquisition and production, and R&D in the sector (PIB, 25 June 2025).
The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), meaning “unity” in Sanskrit, aims to develop common solutions for maritime security in the Indian Ocean. The maiden AIKEYME initiative by the Indian Navy, held from 18-25 April 2025, brought together countries including Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania. India’s MAHASAGAR initiative envisions mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions. It enhances interoperability and fosters cooperation through anti-piracy operations, information sharing, joint seamanship exercises, and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) drills (Indian Navy, 2025).
Conclusion
India has allocated US$78.7 billion in its 2025-26 budget to the defence sector. More than 595 industrial licenses have been issued to 366 companies operating in the Indian defence sector. Defence exports have grown by 334% in the last five years, reaching over 75 countries due to collaborative efforts. India has also established two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, while around 194 defence tech startups are empowering innovation in the sector. Companies like Rolls-Royce, TechEagle, JSW Defence, Paras Defence& Space Technologies, Tata Aircraft Complex, DRDO, and ISRO are actively contributing through developments such as the PSLV propulsion system and HAL UAVs. India has signed defence agreements with countries including Malaysia, Australia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Jordan across various sub-sectors (Defence, 2025).
India’s DefExpo 2022 marked its growing stature in the global defence industries. India and Africa are now prepared to jointly work towards establishing peace and security in the region, agreeing to eliminate international terrorism and build a cooperative defence ecosystem that promotes peace and development.
References
Defence, 2025.https://www.ibef.org/industry/defence-manufacturing
Indian Navy, 2025. Africa India Key Maritime Engagement 2025.
https://indiannavy.gov.in/content/africa-india-key-maritime-engagement-2025
KallolBhattacherjee, 11 April 2024. India to send new Defence Attaches in multiple missions in Africa. http://www.thehindu.com
Ministry of Defence, 2023-2024. Standing Committee on Defence. 35th Report. PIB.
PIB, 28 July 2025. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098431
PIB, 25 June 2025. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2139247
S Jaishankar, 10 April 2024. India is not ‘extractive economy’ and is not pursuing ‘narrow economic activities’ in Africa. The Hindu. Delhi.
The Economic Times, 19 September 2024.
The Hindu, 10 April 2024. Delhi.
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