PrintFriendly
Yesterday (29th October) was a watershed moment in India’s defence and aerospace journey as we inaugurated the C-295 aircraft manufacturing complex in Vadodara alongside the President of the Government of Spain, my friend Mr. Pedro Sanchez.
The speed of execution is breathtaking – from foundation stone to operational facility in just two years! This is a clear manifestation of a new work culture and the capabilities of the people of India.
One way to see India’s success is in the numbers:
• Defence production has soared to Rs. 1.27 lakh crore (2023-24)
• Defence exports have skyrocketed from Rs. 1,000 crore in 2014 Rs. 21,000 crore today
• 12,300+ items have been indigenised in just 3 years.
• Over Rs. 7,500 crore invested in domestic vendors by DPSUs.
• 25% of defence R&D budget dedicated to industry-led innovation.
But, in addition to the numbers as well, there are things which will make everyone very happy:
Complete Defence Ecosystem is being transformed:
1. Manufacturing Success:
• Indigenous warships patrolling our waters
• Made-in-India missiles strengthening our deterrence
• Domestically produced bulletproof jackets protecting our soldiers
• India is becoming Aatmanirbhar in defence and is also working to be a top of the line defence equipment manufacturer.
2. Strategic Infrastructure:
• Two modern Defence Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
3. Innovation Initiatives:
• iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) is powering an entire StartUp eco-system.
• MSMEs becoming integral to the defence supply chain
• Industry-academia partnerships fostering R&D
Thanks to the strengths and skills of our Yuva Shakti and the efforts of the Government, we are seeing the following impacts:
• Reduced import dependency
• Job creation across the defence manufacturing sector
• Skill development for our youth
• MSMEs getting a boost in the defence sector.
From a time when our forces faced critical equipment shortages to today’s era of self-reliance – this is a journey that every Indian can be proud of.
A Call to Action:
To our youth, startups, manufacturers, and innovators – India’s defence sector is calling! This is your moment to be part of history. India needs your expertise and enthusiasm.
The doors are open for innovation, the policies are supportive, and the opportunity is unprecedented. Together, we will make India not just Aatmanirbhar in defence but a global leader in defence manufacturing.
Together, let’s build a stronger, self-reliant Bharat!
(The writer is Prime Minister of India)