New Delhi (AFP) – India’s defence exports “skyrocketed” to an all-time high of more than $4 billion in the last fiscal year, as it looks to boost its arms manufacturing sector, the government said Thursday. The figures mark a rise of more than 60 percent from 2024, the defence ministry said, and provide a shot in the arm for the South Asian country, which is determined to recast itself as a major producer and exporter of weapons.
“India is marching ahead towards becoming a global defence manufacturing hub,” the ministry quoted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as saying. “This big jump…in defence exports reflects the growing global trust in India’s indigenous capabilities and advanced manufacturing strength,” Singh said, adding that it had hit an “all-time high” in the fiscal year 2025-26 of 38,424 billion rupees ($4.15 billion).
Government defence companies produced nearly 55 percent of the exports, with the rest made by private companies. “This milestone showcases the power of a collaborative and self-reliant defence ecosystem,” Singh said. India exports defence equipment to more than 100 countries, with the United States, France, and Armenia among the top customers, according to the defence ministry. Shipments range from missiles, boats, and artillery to radar systems, rocket launchers, and electronic components.
However, the country is still primarily a buyer, not a seller, and remains globally a minor player in exports. New Delhi earlier this year announced a record $85 billion boost for its defence sector. The spending hike came after a four-day conflict with arch-rival Pakistan in May that killed at least 70 people and saw both sides make extensive use of drones, as well as intense missile and artillery barrages. But India’s arms purchases still make up around eight percent of all imports globally, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
© 2024 AFP
