India’s defence landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade. What was once dominated by imports and a few public sector units is now a fast‑growing ecosystem that includes the Army, Navy and Air Force, a large network of defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), hundreds of private companies, and an emerging cluster of space and deep‑tech startups.
This article explains how “Indian Defence” is structured today, and how it now spans conventional platforms like aircraft carriers and fighter jets, to cutting‑edge areas like drones, anti‑drone systems, missiles, and military space capabilities backed by companies such as Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and others.
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What “Indian Defence” Means Today
When people talk about Indian Defence, they usually mean the entire national defence ecosystem, not just the three services. Broadly, it includes:
Indian Armed Forces
Defence Ministry and related bodies
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Department of Defence, Department of Defence Production, Department of Defence R&D, etc.
Research and development
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Defence laboratories (e.g., HEMRL, DRDL, LRDE)
Public sector defence industry
- 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) such as HAL, BEL, BDL, GRSE, GSL, MDL, etc.
Private defence industry
- Large corporates (L&T, Tata, Adani, Mahindra, etc.)
- Hundreds of licensed defence companies and thousands of MSMEs supplying components, subsystems and services
Space and new‑tech ecosystem
- ISRO and its commercial arm NSIL
- Private space startups (Skyroot, Agnikul, Pixxel, Digantara, etc.) working on launch vehicles, satellites, payloads and defence‑relevant technologies
Policy and export push
- “Atmanirbhar Bharat” in defence
- Positive indigenisation lists, iDEX, defence corridors, and a strong push for defence exports
In FY 2025–26, DPSUs and other PSUs contributed around 76% of total defence production, while the private sector’s share rose to about 24%, showing a clear shift towards greater industry participation. Private companies also accounted for roughly 45% of defence exports in the same period, indicating that India is not only making more at home but also selling globally.
The Core: Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces remain the operational heart of Indian Defence.
- Indian Army: Responsible for land operations, border management, counter‑insurgency, and mountain warfare along the Himalayas. It is the largest component in terms of personnel and operates tanks, artillery, infantry combat vehicles, and short‑range air defence systems.
- Indian Navy: Protects India’s maritime interests, sea lanes and exclusive economic zone. It operates aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, patrol vessels and maritime aircraft.
- Indian Air Force (IAF): Ensures air superiority, strategic strike, air defence, transport and reconnaissance. It flies fighters like Su‑30MKI, Rafale, Mirage 2000, and the indigenous Tejas, along with transport aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.
Defence Industry: From DPSUs to Private Players
Public Sector Backbone
India’s defence production has long been anchored by DPSUs:
- HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited): Fighters (Tejas, Su‑30MKI license production), helicopters (Dhruv, Rudra, Prachand), engines and upgrades.
- BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited): Radars, electronic warfare systems, communication equipment, and anti‑drone solutions like the D4 system.
- BDL (Bharat Dynamics Limited): Missiles and torpedoes.
- GRSE, MDL, GSL: Warships, submarines and naval platforms.
- Other DPSUs: Armoured vehicles, artillery, ammunition, and specialised systems.
In recent years, these organisations have been restructured into larger entities, listed on stock exchanges, and pushed to increase efficiency and exports.
Rising Role of Private Sector
Alongside DPSUs, large private groups and mid‑size firms now design and build:
- Artillery guns and ammunition
- Armoured vehicles and mine‑protected vehicles
- Radars, optronics and communication systems
- UAVs and counter‑UAV systems
- Naval subsystems and ship modules
- Missiles and precision munitions (increasingly, as DRDO transfers technology)
In FY 2025, the private sector’s share in indigenous defence production was around 23–24%, and its share in exports was even higher at over 45%. Government policies like the Positive Indigenisation Lists, Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, and iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) have accelerated this trend by reserving certain items for domestic manufacture and funding startups.
Missiles, Tanks and Major Platforms
Missiles and Precision Strike
India’s missile programme, largely driven by DRDO and produced by BDL and private partners, covers:
- Ballistic missiles: Prithvi, Agni series, and the newer Pralay tactical ballistic missile.
- Cruise missiles: BrahMos (supersonic, with a smaller variant under development), Nirbhay.
- Air defence missiles: Akash, Akash‑NG, QRSAM, VL‑SRSAM for the Navy, and the upcoming MR‑SAM/LR‑SAM families.
- Anti‑tank guided missiles (ATGMs): Nag, Helina, MPATGM.
- Man‑portable and short‑range systems: Igla‑S (imported), indigenous replacements in development.
Recent policy changes have allowed DRDO to transfer all conventional missile technologies to the private sector, opening up large‑scale production of missiles through competitive bidding among Indian firms.
Tanks and Armoured Vehicles
On the ground, India’s armoured forces rely on:
- Main battle tanks: T‑90S “Bhishma” (Russian design, licence‑built and upgraded), T‑72 “Ajeya” (being upgraded), and the indigenous Arjun MK‑1/MK‑1A.
- Future tanks: Plans for a Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) to eventually replace older fleets.
- Light tanks: The Zorawar light tank programme, meant for mountainous and high‑altitude regions, is being developed with DRDO and private partners, and is expected to integrate indigenous guns and protection systems.
Artillery modernisation includes K9 Vajra self‑propelled howitzers, M777 ultra‑light howitzers, ATAGS and Dhanush guns, and a range of multi‑barrel rocket launchers like Pinaka, which has also become a successful export product.
Aircraft Carriers and Naval Power Projection
Naval strength is central to India’s Indo‑Pacific strategy, and aircraft carriers are the most visible symbol of blue‑water capability.
INS Vikrant: India’s Indigenous Carrier
INS Vikrant (IAC‑1) is India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier:
- Commissioned in September 2022 at a cost of around ₹23,000 crore.
- Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) with 75–80% indigenous content.
- Displacement: about 40,000–45,000 tonnes full load.
- Length: 262 metres; flight deck around 13,500 m².
- Propulsion: 4 GE LM2500 gas turbines, total around 80 MW, speed 28+ knots.
- Air wing: up to 30–36 aircraft, including MiG‑29K fighters, MH‑60R Seahawk helicopters, ALH, and other rotary‑wing platforms.
- Sensors and weapons: EL/M‑2248 MF‑STAR AESA radar, Barak‑8 LRSAM, close‑in weapon systems (CIWS), ASW rockets and advanced electronic warfare suites.
INS Vikrant has already demonstrated operational maturity, hosting multinational exercises like MILAN 2026 and integrating with partner navies in the Indo‑Pacific.
Future Carriers and Submarines
- IAC‑2: A second indigenous carrier is in early design stages, expected to be around 41,000 tonnes, possibly with EMALS/CATOBAR launch systems for more advanced aircraft.
- Submarines: India operates conventional diesel‑electric submarines (Kalvari class, under Project‑75) and is pursuing Project‑75(I) for six advanced conventional submarines with air‑independent propulsion (AIP), alongside the indigenous SSN (nuclear attack submarine) and SSBN (nuclear ballistic missile submarine) programmes.
These platforms form the backbone of India’s sea control, sea denial and power projection capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region.
Fighter Jets: Tejas, AMCA and the Air Power Mix
Air power is undergoing a major transition, balancing immediate capability gaps with long‑term indigenous programmes.
Tejas Family
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is India’s indigenous multirole fighter:
- Tejas Mk1: Already in service with the IAF and Navy (naval variant for STOBAR operations from INS Vikrant).
- Tejas Mk1A: An improved version with better avionics, maintainability and weapon integration. The IAF ordered 83 Mk1A jets in 2021, followed by 97 more in 2025, taking the total to 180. Deliveries have faced delays but are expected to ramp up from late 2026 onwards, with HAL targeting higher annual production rates.
- Tejas Mk2 (TEDBF for Navy): A medium‑weight fighter under development, featuring a more powerful GE F414 engine, higher payload, better range, improved sensors and some stealth features. Prototype rollout and first flight are targeted in the mid‑to‑late 2020s.
AMCA: India’s Fifth‑Generation Stealth Fighter
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is India’s flagship fifth‑generation stealth fighter programme:
- Twin‑engine, internal weapons bays, advanced sensors and networking.
- Development model opened to both public and private sector participation in 2025.
- Reported development cost in the range of ₹15,000 crore.
- Roadmap aims for a prototype around 2028–29, first flight in a similar window, and entry into service by 2034–35, with serial production from 2035.
A key challenge is the engine: options include GE’s F414 (for Mk2) and potential collaborations with Rolls‑Royce, Safran or others for AMCA’s more powerful requirements.
Alongside indigenous programmes, the IAF continues to operate and upgrade Su‑30MKI, Rafale, Mirage 2000, and MiG‑29 fleets to maintain combat strength while Tejas and AMCA mature.
Drones and Anti‑Drone Technology
Unmanned systems have become central to modern warfare, and India is investing heavily in both drones and counter‑drone capabilities.
Indian Drone Ecosystem
India’s drone ecosystem now includes 600+ firms, with drones and anti‑drone systems accounting for a dominant share of funded defence‑tech startups. Many of these startups integrate AI for autonomy, swarm behaviour, target recognition and mission planning.
Key areas include:
- Surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs: Small tactical drones for the Army and paramilitary, medium‑altitude long‑endurance (MALE) UAVs for persistent ISR.
- Combat drones: Loitering munitions and armed UAVs for precision strikes.
- Logistics and support drones: Resupply, casualty evacuation, and battlefield support in difficult terrain.
The Defence Acquisition Procedure and iDEX have specifically encouraged drone development, and the DFPDS‑2026 scheme supports drones up to 100 km range and 6 hours endurance through revenue and grant routes.
Anti‑Drone and Counter‑Swarm Systems
After experiences like Operation Sindoor (2025) against drone threats, India accelerated its anti‑drone programmes:
- D4 Anti‑Drone Shield: Developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL, this system uses radar, electro‑optical sensors, RF jamming, GPS spoofing (soft kill) and lasers (hard kill) to detect, track and neutralise hostile drones. It has been inducted for use by the Navy and other services.
- Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDD&IS) Mark‑II: The Army and Air Force are acquiring multiple units equipped with 10 kW lasers capable of engaging drones up to 2 km.
- Bhargavastra: An indigenous counter‑swarm system that can detect drone swarms up to 10 km away and neutralise dozens of targets using micro‑rockets and guided micro‑missiles at ranges of 2–4 km. It was successfully tested in 2025 and is being inducted.
- AI‑enabled interceptors: Systems like vajR (reusable, AI‑enabled), FWD YAMA (low‑cost interceptor), and Falcon (AI‑powered kinetic) are being tested as part of a layered defence against massed drone attacks.
By the end of 2026, at least 10 major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar and Amritsar, are expected to be equipped with dedicated anti‑drone systems combining radars, jammers and soft‑kill mechanisms.
Space as the New Frontier of Indian Defence
Space is no longer just about communications and weather; it is now a contested strategic domain. India’s military space programme in 2026 is structured around four pillars:
- Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Secure military communications
- Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
- Counter‑space capabilities
Reports indicate India is moving towards 52 military satellites and developing a Joint Military Space Doctrine, alongside counter‑space weapons in various stages of development.
SBS‑III and Military Satellite Constellations
A major initiative is the SBS‑III (Satellite‑Based Surveillance) programme, approved at a cost of around ₹26,968 crore:
- Plans for 21 satellites built by ISRO and 31 by private domestic firms.
- Deployment scheduled between 2025 and 2029.
- Aimed at continuous surveillance along India’s borders and maritime approaches, providing real‑time intelligence to the armed forces.
This marks a shift from ad‑hoc military payloads to dedicated, resilient constellations designed for wartime survivability and rapid replenishment.
Private Space Companies and Defence
India’s private space sector has grown to over 400 companies, with a target to expand the space economy fivefold to $40–45 billion by 2030. Key players include:
- Skyroot Aerospace: First Indian private company to place payloads into orbit with Vikram‑1 (July 2026). Focused on small‑satellite launch vehicles and dedicated orbital missions.
- Agnikul Cosmos: Developing customisable small launch vehicles and 3D‑printed rocket engines; built the world’s first single‑piece 3D‑printed rocket engine and launched its Agnibaan rocket from India’s first private launch pad.
- Pixxel: Hyperspectral imaging satellites useful for defence and environmental monitoring.
- Digantara: Space domain awareness and tracking, including missile‑tracking capabilities marketed to governments.
These startups are increasingly working on defence‑relevant technologies: secure communications, Earth observation, SSA, and even direct support to missile and air defence systems.
The anticipated Space Policy 2026 revisions are expected to further deregulate the sector, allowing private firms to take a lead role in manufacturing and maintaining military‑grade satellite constellations, similar to models seen in Western defence‑commercial ecosystems.
Indian Defence as layers:
- Strategic layer: Nuclear deterrent (missiles, SSBNs), military space architecture, long‑range strike capabilities.
- Operational layer: Aircraft carriers, major surface combatants, submarines, fighter squadrons, missile regiments, armoured divisions.
- Tactical layer: Drones, counter‑drone systems, short‑range air defence, artillery, infantry weapons, battlefield networks.
- Industrial & tech layer: DRDO labs, DPSUs, private defence firms, startups in drones, space, AI, electronics and materials.
- Policy & export layer: Indigenisation policies, defence corridors, iDEX, defence export promotion.
Every new missile test, carrier sortie, Tejas delivery, drone deployment or satellite launch is a piece of this larger puzzle.
Indian Defence – Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main components of Indian Defence?
Indian Defence spans the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), the Ministry of Defence and DRDO, public sector DPSUs like HAL and BEL, hundreds of private defence companies, and a growing space and deep‑tech startup ecosystem including firms like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos.
Which is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier?
INS Vikrant (IAC‑1) is India's first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, commissioned in September 2022 and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited with 75–80% indigenous content.
What is India's fifth‑generation stealth fighter programme called?
It is called the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a twin‑engine stealth fighter with a roadmap targeting a prototype around 2028–29 and entry into service by 2034–35.
How is India strengthening its anti‑drone capabilities?
Through systems like the DRDO‑developed, BEL‑manufactured D4 Anti‑Drone Shield, the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDD&IS) Mark‑II, and the indigenous counter‑swarm system Bhargavastra, alongside AI‑enabled interceptors such as vajR, FWD YAMA and Falcon.
What role does the private sector play in Indian Defence?
The private sector's share in indigenous defence production has risen to around 23–24%, while accounting for over 45% of defence exports, driven by policies like the Positive Indigenisation Lists, DAP 2020, and iDEX.
