India's defence expenditure has registered a considerable increase, rising 2.6 times from Rs 2.53 lakh crore during 2013-14 to Rs 6.81 lakh crore during 2025-26.
This demonstrates India's firm commitment to national security augmentation, the modernization of its armed forces, and military infrastructure upgradation, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The assertion also spoke to the ways strategic reforms, private sector engagement, and innovation have driven indigenous production, making India independent and a world-accepted defence exporter. This has been instrumental in boosting national security and economic growth.
The collaboration between private industry and government has been the key to innovation in many areas including arms and ammunition, aerospace, electronics, and naval technology. Initiatives such as 'Make in India' and relaxed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies have strengthened indigenous manufacturing capabilities, promoted foreign investments in defence research and development, and helped achieve remarkable growth in exports of defence goods, the report states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on Monday, referred to the efficacious utilisation of Made in India defence gear in Operation Sindoor. The operation showcased the precision bombing that eliminated terrorist strongholds and caused heavy damage to air bases deep inside enemy territory.
"The world is now seeing Made in India defence systems as a strong force in warfare in the 21st century," PM Modi asserted in his speech.
He underscored how the operation revealed Pakistan's weaknesses, as its drones and missiles were countered by India's sophisticated air defence equipment, which made them useless in the air.
PM Modi further observed that India's missiles and drones launched extremely precise attacks, targeting Pakistani airbases long considered fortresses. Pakistan, having suffered unforeseen destruction during the first three days of India's counter-attack, tried to ease tensions by calling for relief from the international community.
The Prime Minister complimented Operation Sindoor for highlighting India's military prowess, not only in traditional warfare, but also in New Age Warfare. He specifically referred to the Brahmos missiles made in India, which were employed to destroy airbases and air defence systems in Pakistan. The efficacy of India's air defence system, built over the last decade, was instrumental in intercepting and neutralising a drone and missile attack wave initiated by Pakistan.
The exercise also showed the smooth fusion of India's cutting-edge defence technologies, such as the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and anti-drone technologies of DRDO.
In a major milestone, Kamikaze drones, jointly developed by Adani Group's Alpha Design Technologies and Israel's Elbit Systems, were successfully used in the operation. Developed in Bengaluru under the 'Make in India' program, the SkyStriker drones have the ability to provide precision strikes with a loitering time of up to two hours. This is a major milestone in India's path to self-reliance in advanced defence technologies.
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