‘Self-Reliance is the Only Way’: Defence Minister Urges Focus on Subsystems & Innovation at SIDM Session
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today urged the domestic defence industry, particularly the private sector, to escalate efforts towards self-reliance by prioritizing the indigenous production of individual subsystems and components and dominating global supply and maintenance chains.
Addressing the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Annual Session on the theme ‘Defence Self-Reliance: Strengthening National Security through Indigenous Industry’, the Minister asserted that self-reliance is the “only way to deal with emerging challenges” in a weakening world order and an evolving defence sector.
Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that the recent “Operation Sindoor” served as a crucial case study, where the effective use of Made-in-India equipment like the Akash missile system, BrahMos, and AkashTeer Air Defence Control System bolstered India’s reputation.
He stated that the operation demonstrated the need for constant introspection, noting, “This incident has once again shown us that anything can happen at our borders, anywhere, at any time. We need to be ready for a war-like situation, and our preparedness must be based on our own foundation.”
The Minister credited the success of the operation to both the Armed Forces and the “Industry warriors” who innovated and manufactured the equipment, describing the Indian industry as a vital pillar of defence alongside the military wings.
The Defence Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to establishing a “real manufacturing base” in the country, beyond mere assembly, to create equipment embodying the spirit of ‘Made in India, Made for the World’. He stressed that the government, through initiatives like the Quantum Mission and the National Research Foundation, is creating a level-playing field and an environment for innovation and R&D.
Highlighting significant progress, the Minister shared impressive figures:
Defence Production has increased from approximately ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to a record ₹1.51 lakh crore today, with the private sector contributing ₹33,000 crore.
Defence Exports, which were less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago, have now reached a record approximately ₹24,000 crore.
Shri Singh expressed confidence that defence exports are poised to reach ₹30,000 crore by March 2026.
Singh issued a direct challenge to the industry, urging the private sector to increase its contribution to domestic defence manufacturing from the current around 25% to at least 50% in the next three years.
He specifically called on the industry to move beyond manufacturing complete platforms and focus on subsystems and components to increase indigenous content and reduce reliance on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for maintenance, repair, and spare parts management.
“We must ensure that ‘our soil, our shield’ becomes our first choice,” he concluded, urging the industry to utilize schemes like iDEX and ADITI to develop large-scale, end-to-end technological products for the armed forces.