Private Defence Players At A Pivotal Juncture, Says Defence Secretary | Profit Exclusive

India’s private defence sector is at a critical inflection point. The country's growing defence ambitions require private manufacturers to step up as equal partners with public sector units, according to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

“The private sector has the capability to step up and match our needs, and this is critical to building a strong defence ecosystem,” he told NDTV Profit in an exclusive interview.

The government is streamlining procurement frameworks and shortening procurement cycles to support private participation. “It is not about competition—it is about complementing each other’s strengths,” Singh added. Private companies need to invest in available technologies and be ready to take on bigger roles, he said.

India’s armed forces recently “showed their metal” during Operation Sindoor, showcasing advanced precision-strike capabilities and sophisticated defence systems. He praised their “strategic capability and disciplined execution”, noting the world had witnessed India’s technological edge.

Government-led initiatives like Make‑II and IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) programs, plus the ADITI Challenge—a Ministry of Defence initiative to identify and fund disruptive defence technologies—are reducing entry barriers and shortening procurement timelines for private players making high-tech indigenous solutions, Singh said.

According to the Department of Defence Production dashboard, India’s defence production reached Rs  89,702 crore in 2024–25 (as of December 2024), with a target of Rs 1,60,000 crore. Exports for 2025–26 stood at Rs  2,741.21 crore as of May 2025, with an ambitious target of Rs 30,000 crore.

Following its Defence & Aerospace Conference 4.0, Antique Broking mentioned that private entrepreneurs must invest in acquiring available technologies. Defence exports have grown at an annual rate of 40% between fiscals  2017 and 2025, driven largely by private companies, the brokerage noted. India now exports missiles, radars, armoured vehicles, and ammunition to over 85 countries, with the government targeting Rs 50,000 crore in exports by fiscal 2029.

Despite this, India accounted for just 0.2% of global arms exports between 2016 and 2023, compared to 39% from the US, 15% from Russia, and 9% from France. With private players now contributing over 20% to domestic defence production, Singh’s message is that India needs a robust public–private collaboration, backed by strong government initiatives and a bold shift toward indigenous innovation.