After the successful deployment of ‘Made in India’ defence drones in ‘Operation Sindoor’, India has set its sights on becoming the world’s top exporter of military drones, targeting Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
Drones at the centre of modern warfare
Ministry of Information and Broadcast stated that the integration of drone warfare into India’s military doctrine owes its success to years of domestic R&D and policy reform.
Since 2021, the ban on imported drones and the launch of the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme have catalysed rapid innovation. The scheme of Production Linked Incentive for drones and drone components of Ministry of Civil Aviation was notified on September 30, 2021, with a total incentive of Rs 120 crore spread over three financial years FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24.
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“The future lies in autonomous drones with AI-driven decision-making, and India is already laying the groundwork,” it said.
Defence exports set to rise
The ministry noted that defence exports crossed the record figure of about Rs 24,000 crore in FY2024-25. The aim is to increase the figure to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029 and make India a developed nation and the world’s largest defence exporter by 2047.
“India has emerged as a major defence manufacturing hub, driven by the “Make in India” initiative and a strong push for self-reliance. In FY 2023–24, indigenous defence production reached a record Rs 1.27 lakh crore, while exports soared to Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024–25, a 34-fold increase from 2013–14,” it said.
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Strategic reforms, private sector involvement, and robust R&D have led to the development of advanced military platforms like the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Light Specialist Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Akash Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar, 3D Tactical Control Radar, and Software Defined Radio (SDR), as well as naval assets like destroyers, indigenous aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, corvettes, fast patrol vessels, fast attack craft, and offshore patrol vessels.
“The government has backed this growth with record procurement contracts, innovations under iDEX, drives like SRIJAN, and two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Key acquisitions such as LCH (Light Combat Helicopters) Prachand helicopters and the ATAGS (Approval for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) highlight the shift towards indigenous capability. With targets of Rs 3 lakh crore in production and Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029, India is firmly positioning itself as a self-reliant and globally competitive defence manufacturing power,” the ministry added.