India Aims to Be Top Arms Exporter, Private Sector Critical: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared India's ambition to become a leading global arms exporter within 25-30 years, highlighting the pivotal role of the private sector in achieving this goal. Speaking at the inauguration of a new ammunition unit in Shirdi, he emphasized increasing private sector contribution to 50% in defence production, marking a significant strategic shift for India.
Key Highlights
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh set target for India to become top arms exporter in 25-30 years.
- Private sector crucial for achieving 50% share in India's defence production.
- Statements made during inauguration of ammunition manufacturing unit in Shirdi.
- CDS Anil Chauhan emphasized multi-domain future warfare and Shirdi's defence hub potential.
- NIBE Group's 'Suryastra' rocket launcher showcased, Indian Army placed emergency order.
- Shirdi to manufacture missiles, drones, artillery shells with significant investment.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has articulated an ambitious vision for India, stating that the nation aims to emerge as the world's biggest arms exporter within the next 25-30 years. This transformative declaration was made during the inauguration of a state-of-the-art ammunition manufacturing unit in Shirdi, Maharashtra, underscoring a significant shift from India's traditional role as a major arms importer.
Singh heavily emphasized the indispensable role of the private sector in realizing this goal. He announced the government's target to elevate the private sector's contribution to defence production to 50%, highlighting that private players are no longer just suppliers of components but have evolved into producers of advanced weapon systems. This push aligns with the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives, which aim to boost indigenous manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign defence equipment.
The inauguration event in Shirdi also served as a platform for other significant defence-related announcements and discussions. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, also present at the event, spoke about the evolving nature of modern warfare. He stated that future conflicts would be multi-domain, encompassing land, sea, air, cyberspace, and cognitive warfare. General Chauhan further lauded Shirdi, traditionally known for its spiritual significance, as an emerging hub for defence manufacturing and technological innovation, terming it a 'confluence of faith and future technology'.
The new manufacturing complex in Shirdi, spearheaded by NIBE Group, represents a substantial investment in India's defence capabilities. The group plans an investment of approximately ₹10,000 crore (though some reports indicated an initial investment of ₹1,000 crore for the complex, with larger overall group investment), on a 200-acre facility dedicated to producing crucial defence equipment such as missiles, drones, and artillery shells. This facility is expected to generate around 2,000 direct jobs.
A key highlight from the Shirdi Defence Expo, coinciding with these inaugurations, was the display of NIBE's 'Suryastra' Universal Rocket Launcher System. NIBE Limited successfully completed the test firing of the Suryastra system at the Integrated Test Range in Odisha, following an emergency procurement order from the Indian Army in January 2026. The system demonstrated high precision with 150 km and 300 km range rockets, achieving impressive circular error probable (CEP) measurements.
India's defence exports have seen remarkable growth in recent years. In the Financial Year 2024-25, defence exports reached a record ₹23,622 crore (approximately $2.5 billion), demonstrating a 34-fold increase over the past decade. This upward trajectory continued into FY 2025-26, with exports touching an all-time high of ₹38,424 crore (about $4 billion), a 62.66% increase over the previous fiscal. The private sector contributed significantly to these exports, accounting for 45.16% in FY 2025-26, compared to 54.84% from Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
Domestic defence production also reached record levels, with an output of ₹1,50,590 crore in FY 2024-25, an 18% increase from the previous year. The private sector's share in total defence production increased from 21% in FY 2023-24 to 23% in FY 2024-25, with a 28% growth in production in FY 2024-25. The government has set a target of achieving ₹3 lakh crore in defence production and ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029-30. Looking further ahead, India aims for defence production worth ₹8.8 lakh crore (approximately $103 billion) and defence exports of ₹2.8 lakh crore (approximately $33 billion) by 2047, solidifying its position among the world's top three defence exporters. These figures demonstrate a robust and accelerating defence industrial base, driven by policy reforms and increasing private sector participation.
The overall narrative highlights India's strategic intent to transform its defence landscape from being import-dependent to becoming a self-reliant global manufacturing and exporting powerhouse, with Shirdi emerging as a crucial hub in this national endeavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's long-term goal for arms exports?
India aims to become the world's biggest arms exporter within the next 25-30 years, transitioning from being a major importer to a global manufacturing and exporting powerhouse in defence equipment.
What role will the private sector play in India's defence manufacturing?
The private sector is projected to play a crucial role, with the government targeting an increase in its contribution to defence production to 50%. This signifies a shift towards greater innovation and production by private companies.
What is the significance of Shirdi in India's defence strategy?
Shirdi, traditionally a spiritual center, is now being developed as a major defence manufacturing and technological innovation hub. It houses a new ammunition manufacturing unit and facilities for producing missiles, drones, and artillery shells.
What is the 'Suryastra' rocket launcher system?
The 'Suryastra' Universal Rocket Launcher System is an indigenous long-range rocket system developed by NIBE Limited, which recently completed successful test firings. The Indian Army has placed an emergency procurement order for its 150 km and 300 km range variants.
How have India's defence exports grown recently?
India's defence exports have shown significant growth, reaching ₹23,622 crore (approx. $2.5 billion) in FY 2024-25 and further surging to ₹38,424 crore (approx. $4 billion) in FY 2025-26, marking a substantial increase over the past decade.