India Strengthens Position as Global Defence Leader at Aero India 2025
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh Highlights Self-Reliance, Private Sector Role in Defence Manufacturing
BNH NETWORK
Bengaluru – India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in defence innovation and aerospace technology, stated Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at the Valedictory event of Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. Highlighting India’s transformation towards self-reliance, he emphasized that national security demands nothing less than the best for the country’s armed forces.
Raksha Mantri underscored how India’s defence manufacturing sector has evolved, with nearly 65-70% of weapons and platforms now being produced domestically—a stark contrast to the past decade, where the country heavily relied on imports. “From small artillery to large platforms like BrahMos and Akash missile systems, Indian defence products are not only protecting our borders but also gaining global recognition,” he said. India’s defence exports are on the rise, forging new international partnerships and strengthening its role as a key player in global security.
Private Sector’s Growing Role in Defence Innovation
Rajnath Singh stressed the need for the private sector to take a lead in defence manufacturing, with 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), 430 licensed companies, and over 16,000 MSMEs already contributing to the industry. Government initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), and the Technology Development Fund (TDF) are designed to bolster both public and private sector participation.
Showcasing Indigenous Defence Capabilities: ‘Samarthya’ Indigenisation Event
Aero India 2025 also featured ‘Samarthya’, a first-of-its-kind indigenisation event that displayed 33 state-of-the-art defence items developed by DPSUs, DRDO, Indian Navy, and iDEX innovators. Among the showcased products were RudraM-II Missile, Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range, AI-based Decision Support Platforms (DeepDarshak), Quantum Secure Key Generation for Cybersecurity, Smart Compressed Breathing Apparatus, and Counter-drone RF Jammer Guns.
During the event, three key booklets were released:
✅ ‘Samarthya’ Coffee Table Booklet – A comprehensive guide to India’s indigenisation journey
✅ Compendium of Problem Definition Statements (CPDS) 2025 – Bridging operational challenges of the Indian Army with industry-driven solutions
✅ HQ IDS Booklet – Insights into conducting multi-domain operations in an advanced technological landscape
Defence Preparedness and Future Vision
Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated that India’s Armed Forces play the most crucial role in achieving self-reliance. He praised the military’s trust in indigenous products, stating that India’s Defence Industrial Complex is built on the unwavering support of the forces. He emphasized that Aero India 2025 has demonstrated that India’s defence and aerospace ambitions go beyond the skies, positioning the country as a global hub for advanced defence technology and innovation.
The event also saw the felicitation of industry partners, DPSU employees, and DRDO personnel for their contributions to defence indigenisation.
Key Dignitaries at the Event
The event was attended by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar.
