Bramha Research Foundation, with support from the Indian Navy, recently hosted a conclave on ‘Atmanirbharta in Defence – Opportunities for MSMEs’ at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. Held on the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor, the event brought together military leaders, policymakers, defence strategists, OEMs and industry representatives.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said Operation Sindoor reflected India’s growing indigenous military capability, noting that defence exports have crossed Rs 39,000 crore, while recently approved defence projects worth over Rs 5 lakh crore focus strongly on Indian-made systems. He said future warfare will depend on resilient supply chains, rapid innovation, scalable manufacturing and strong MSME participation.

Deependra Singh Kushwaha highlighted Maharashtra’s defence and aerospace strength, stating that the state contributes nearly 30 per cent of India’s weapons and ammunition output, hosts over 190 aerospace and defence startups, and has attracted more than $10 billion in committed investments. He also spoke on proposed Raksha Corridors, infrastructure expansion and policy reforms.

Air Marshal Tejinder Singh underlined opportunities for MSMEs in drones, avionics, radars, MRO, electronic warfare and next-generation defence systems. A panel featuring L&T, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Safran India and TKMS India discussed indigenous R&D, maritime defence, global partnerships, quality upgradation and stronger local supply chains.

Vice Admiral Atul Anand highlighted the government’s focus on domestic procurement, defence innovation and indigenous manufacturing through mechanisms such as iDEX and TDF. BRF Director Paresh Page said Atmanirbharta is now a strategic national imperative, adding that India’s expanding defence ecosystem represents nearly a Rs 10 lakh crore opportunity for MSMEs across manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, drones, shipbuilding, cyber technologies, MRO and AI.