Rajnath sets ambitious Rs 3 tn defence production target by FY29

29 Feb 2024 CW Team

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing a media seminar on defence production, set an annual target of Rs 3 trillion in aerospace and defence services and production by 2028-29.

He also announced that the annual export target for aerospace and defence services and production was being raised to Rs 500 billion in the same time frame.

Rajnath Singh mentioned that efforts towards jointness and integration had made the military ready to confront any challenge collectively. He added that the government was concentrating on achieving long-term gains, aiming to make India 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047.

He expressed the objective of manufacturing high-end systems such as aero-engines and gas turbines in India within the next five years.

Referring to the growth in indigenous defence production over the preceding years, he highlighted the 2018 Ministry of Defence (MoD) roadmap known as the Defence Production Policy of 2018, or DPrP 2018.

According to the 2018 policy, the annual target was set at Rs 1.7 trillion in aerospace and defence services and production turnover by 2025. This was to be achieved through an additional investment of nearly Rs 700 billion, generating employment for around 2 to 3 million people.

The 2018 policy also aimed at exports of defence goods and services worth Rs 350 billion by 2025.

Rajnath Singh emphasised that no military could protect its nation with imported weaponry. He noted that the "government's persistent efforts" towards self-reliance had elevated defence production to Rs 1 trillion.

He reflected on India's transformation from being known as an arms importer to becoming one of the top 25 arms-exporting nations under the leadership of the prime minister. Seven-eight years ago, defence exports were below Rs 10 billion, but now they have reached Rs 160 billion. He projected that by 2028-29, annual defence production would touch Rs 3 trillion, and defence exports would reach Rs 500 billion.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing a media seminar on defence production, set an annual target of Rs 3 trillion in aerospace and defence services and production by 2028-29. He also announced that the annual export target for aerospace and defence services and production was being raised to Rs 500 billion in the same time frame. Rajnath Singh mentioned that efforts towards jointness and integration had made the military ready to confront any challenge collectively. He added that the government was concentrating on achieving long-term gains, aiming to make India 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047. He expressed the objective of manufacturing high-end systems such as aero-engines and gas turbines in India within the next five years. Referring to the growth in indigenous defence production over the preceding years, he highlighted the 2018 Ministry of Defence (MoD) roadmap known as the Defence Production Policy of 2018, or DPrP 2018. According to the 2018 policy, the annual target was set at Rs 1.7 trillion in aerospace and defence services and production turnover by 2025. This was to be achieved through an additional investment of nearly Rs 700 billion, generating employment for around 2 to 3 million people. The 2018 policy also aimed at exports of defence goods and services worth Rs 350 billion by 2025. Rajnath Singh emphasised that no military could protect its nation with imported weaponry. He noted that the government's persistent efforts towards self-reliance had elevated defence production to Rs 1 trillion. He reflected on India's transformation from being known as an arms importer to becoming one of the top 25 arms-exporting nations under the leadership of the prime minister. Seven-eight years ago, defence exports were below Rs 10 billion, but now they have reached Rs 160 billion. He projected that by 2028-29, annual defence production would touch Rs 3 trillion, and defence exports would reach Rs 500 billion.