More than 5 lakh crore defence projects approved carry focus on indigenisation: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

Mumbai: More than Rs 5 lakh crore worth of defence projects approved recently carry a strong focus on Indian-made systems and indigenous manufacturing, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, said coinciding with the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor.

Air Marshal Dixit was speaking at a high-level day-long conclave on ‘Atmanirbharta in Defence – Opportunities for MSMEs’, hosted by the Bramha Research Foundation (BRF) with the support of the Indian Navy, at Taj Lands End in Mumbai.

“Operation Sindoor is a defining example of India’s growing indigenous military capability and strategic resolve under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s defence exports have now crossed Rs 39,000 crore, while more than Rs 5 lakh crore worth of defence projects approved recently carry a strong focus on Indian-made systems and indigenous manufacturing,” Air Marshal Dixit said.

Reflecting on future warfare, Air Marshal Dixit emphasised that strategic superiority will increasingly depend on resilient supply chains, rapid innovation, scalable manufacturing and strong MSME participation.

He stated that modern conflicts will be shaped not only by platforms such as fighter aircraft and warships, but also by AI, cyber warfare, autonomous systems, drones, advanced electronics and industrial resilience.

Calling MSMEs the backbone of India’s future defence ecosystem, he urged them to evolve from vendors into long-term partners in national security.

Held on the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor, the conclave reflected on how indigenous systems such as BrahMos, Akashteer and the Indianised Su-30MKI significantly strengthened Bharat’s strategic confidence and operational preparedness. The discussions underscored that Atmanirbharta in Defence is no longer merely an economic objective, but a strategic national imperative.

Vice Admiral Atul Anand, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, highlighted the government’s strong push towards domestic procurement, defence innovation and indigenous manufacturing. He underscored how startups and MSMEs are becoming central pillars of India’s defence transformation.

“From iDEX and TDF funding mechanisms to futuristic technologies like AI, autonomous systems and quantum capabilities, the presentation offered valuable insights into the future of India’s defence ecosystem,” he said.

A presentation by Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, focused on the rapidly evolving nature of warfare and the urgent need for India to accelerate indigenous capability development across aerospace and defence sectors.

He highlighted how future battlefields will increasingly be driven by cyber capabilities, space technologies, AI-enabled systems, resilient communication networks, simulation technologies and advanced manufacturing. He also underlined the enormous opportunities emerging for MSMEs in drones, avionics, radars, MRO, electronic warfare and next-generation defence systems.

Addressing the conclave, BRF Director Paresh Page stated that in today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, Atmanirbharta is no longer merely an economic objective, but a strategic national imperative.

He noted that from AI and cyber security to drones, defence manufacturing and resilient supply chains, the future of warfare and national preparedness will increasingly be shaped by technology, innovation and indigenous capability.