New Delhi: Over the past eleven years, the Modi government has spearheaded a profound transformation in India’s defence sector, championing ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) to drastically reduce dependence on foreign arms.
This strategic shift, initiated in 2014 with ‘Make in India’, saw increased FDI (up to 74 per cent) and fostered joint ventures, laying the groundwork for domestic production of advanced military hardware like the BrahMos missile, K9 Vajra howitzer, and AK-203 rifle.
— John Spencer (@SpencerGuard) May 29, 2025
A significant acceleration occurred in 2020, propelled by the Galwan Valley clash and global supply chain disruptions during COVID-19. Prime Minister Modi elevated self-reliance into a core national security doctrine. This involved phased import bans on critical defence items, streamlined procurement processes, emergency buying powers for armed forces, and accelerated indigenous research and development. By 2025, domestic content in defence procurement had soared from 30 per cent to 65 per cent, with an ambitious target of 90 per cent by the decade’s end.
This vision was put to the ultimate test in April 2025 during ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley. The operation served as a powerful showcase of India’s indigenous arsenal, demonstrating a transition from a mere buyer to a formidable battlefield innovator.
Key home-grown systems deployed during Operation Sindoor included:
⦁ BrahMos Supersonic Missile: Used for precision strikes on enemy radar stations and bunkers.
⦁ Akash SAM & Akashteer: An AI-integrated mobile air defence system countering drones, cruise missiles, and aircraft.
⦁ Rudram-1 Anti-Radiation Missile: India’s first indigenously built missile, suppressing enemy air defences.
⦁ Netra AEW&C: A DRDO-developed airborne surveillance platform guiding fighters for precision strikes.
⦁ Loitering Munitions (Harop & SkyStriker): “Kamikaze drones” used to neutralise mobile targets.
⦁ D4S UAV Defence System: An advanced system for detecting and neutralising enemy drones.
While some platforms like the M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer (used with precision-guided shells in mountain warfare) were imported, their deployment was tailored to Indian terrain. Additionally, the T-72 and the indigenously developing Zorawar Light Tanks were crucial for high-altitude combat. Airborne assets like Rafale, Su-30MKI, and Mirage 2000 conducted deep strikes, coordinated by Netra AEW&C.
Operation Sindoor marked a strategic validation of India’s defence transformation. It not only neutralised threats but definitively proved India’s capability to lead with domestically developed technology. Today, with defence exports reaching over 85 countries, India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision is reshaping its military-industrial complex, bolstering national security, and driving significant technological and economic growth.
