India has achieved a major milestone in its drive towards self-reliance in defence production, with more than 15,700 defence items successfully indigenised, resulting in an estimated ₹9,000 crore in import substitution. The achievement reflects the growing role of Indian industry in supplying components, equipment and systems required to sustain the country’s armed forces.
The milestone forms part of the government’s broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which seeks to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers while building a stronger domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. According to the latest information, more than 33,000 defence items have been offered for indigenisation, with a substantial number already developed within the country.
A key driver of this effort has been the SRIJAN Defence Portal, launched in 2020 to connect defence organisations with Indian manufacturers, including Defence Public Sector Undertakings, private companies, MSMEs and start-ups. The platform enables defence establishments to identify items currently dependent on imports and offer them to Indian industry for indigenous development and production.
The indigenisation programme covers a wide range of equipment and components used across India’s military platforms. These include parts and subsystems associated with fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, warships, missiles, radars and sonars, helping create domestic supply chains for critical defence requirements.
The development comes as the Ministry of Defence continues to expand its Positive Indigenisation Lists. Most recently, the Department of Defence Production notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List, covering 405 strategically important items with an estimated business potential of ₹3,070 crore. The list includes components, spares, subsystems and raw materials for platforms such as the Su-30MKI, Light Combat Aircraft, helicopters, T-72 and T-90 tanks, warships and missile systems.
The latest figures also highlight the increasing participation of the Indian private sector in defence manufacturing. MSMEs and start-ups are gaining opportunities to develop specialised components and technologies that were traditionally sourced from overseas suppliers. This is helping broaden India’s defence industrial base while encouraging domestic research, design and manufacturing capabilities.
Beyond the financial value of import substitution, the indigenisation programme has significant strategic importance. Greater domestic availability of critical components can reduce vulnerabilities arising from international supply-chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. It can also improve the armed forces’ ability to maintain and sustain major platforms without excessive dependence on foreign suppliers.
The government is simultaneously seeking to move beyond simple assembly or licensed production towards deeper indigenous design and technological capability. The long-term objective is to establish domestic expertise across the defence value chain, from components and subsystems to complete weapon platforms.
India’s defence industry has also been expanding its export footprint, supported by improvements in indigenous manufacturing capabilities. The combination of domestic procurement, indigenisation initiatives and growing exports is gradually positioning India as a more capable global defence manufacturing hub.
The achievement of more than 15,700 indigenised items therefore represents more than a numerical milestone. It signals a continuing transformation of India’s defence production ecosystem, with domestic companies increasingly contributing to the equipment and technologies required by the country’s armed forces.