Aero India 2025: 65-70% weapons and defence platforms are made in India, says Rajnath Singh

The Defence Minister said that many Indian products including fighter jets, missile systems and naval vessels were catching the attention of the world.

Bengaluru: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said around 65-70% of weapons and defence platforms are currently being made in India unlike ten years ago when most of the items would have to be imported.

“While 65-70% of defence equipment was imported a decade ago, today almost the same percentage of weapons/platforms are being manufactured on the Indian soil,” the minister said at the valedictory event of Aero India 2025.

Many Indian defence products including fighter jets, missile systems and naval vessels were catching the attention of the world.

“From small artillery to large platforms like Brahmos and Akash missile systems, we are exporting a variety of products to many countries,” he said.

India’s defence industrial complex comprises 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings, 430 licensed companies and nearly 16,000 MSMEs. In addition, with its current share of 21% in total defence production, the private sector is playing an active role.

The time has come for the private industry to take a lead in the defence manufacturing sector in India, the minister said.

More than 500 delegates from 84 countries, including foreign guests, Defence Ministers and service chiefs have participated in the biennial show that has emerged as Asia’s largest. There were 931 exhibitors, including 782 Indians.

Fifty eight Original Equipment Manufacturers and 115 global CEOs participated in Aero India, making it the biggest participation by foreign companies so far.

At the valedictory event, India’s indigenous ingenuity in defence manufacturing was displayed through 33 state-of-the-art items at Samarthya indigenisation event, which was the first-of-its-kind at Aero India.