India moves from 70% defence imports to domestic orders: DRDO chief
By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru. India’s defence sector has witnessed a historic transformation, moving from importing nearly 70 percent of its weapon systems to placing most new orders with domestic industries, said Dr. Sameer V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO. He described this as a defining moment in India’s journey towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the foundation of its emerging technology leadership.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the seventh edition of the India Manufacturing Show (IMS 2025) in Bengaluru, Dr. Kamat said India’s new industrial and defence ecosystem reflects growing national confidence, innovation capability, and technological maturity.
“Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not just a slogan—it is a mission that integrates innovation, design, and industry collaboration. The shift from import dependency to indigenous production demonstrates how India has built the ability to design and deliver systems that meet global standards,” he said.
Highlighting the major strides made in indigenous technology development, Dr. Kamat said: “We have moved from a country that used to import the majority of its weapon systems to one where domestic industries now receive most new orders. This is a defining change, and it underlines the success of the government’s self-reliance policy in defence.”
He said the backbone of this success lies in India’s network of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). “Over 2,000 MSMEs participated in the development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Akash missile systems. These enterprises have become vital partners in the nation’s defence manufacturing chain,” he added.
Dr. Kamat pointed out that several indigenous systems had performed exceptionally well in Operation Sindoor, proving the capability and reliability of India’s homegrown defence technologies. “Our next goal should be technology leadership — to make not only for India but for the world,” he asserted.
He called for a “whole-of-nation approach” where DRDO, large industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and academic institutions work together to create cutting-edge solutions. “Collaboration is the cornerstone of innovation. Only when every segment of the ecosystem contributes can we achieve global competitiveness,” he said.
Bharat Forge Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Baba Kalyani echoed Dr. Kamat’s views, saying India’s manufacturing transformation must move from innovation to a product nation. “In a world witnessing geopolitical shifts, self-reliance in technology is essential for both economic and national security. We must develop critical technologies indigenously to safeguard sovereignty,” he said.
Kalyani lauded the government’s support for the defence industry, noting that the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative has opened opportunities for thousands of enterprises to contribute to national capability building. “Self-reliance is a milestone; technology leadership must be the destination,” he added.
Union Minister of State for MSME, Labour and Employment Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, and ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan also addressed the gathering, stressing the importance of innovation-led industrial growth and the role of MSMEs in building a robust manufacturing ecosystem.
The event brought together policymakers, scientists, industrialists, and innovators to discuss strategies for India’s technological advancement. Speakers agreed that the convergence of research, entrepreneurship, and public policy is vital for ensuring India’s leadership in global technology and manufacturing.
Dr. Kamat concluded by congratulating IMS Foundation and Laghu Udyog Bharati Karnataka Chapter for organising the event, describing it as “a timely platform that reflects India’s confidence in its own innovation ecosystem.”
“With the right momentum and collaboration, India is on its way to becoming not just self-reliant but a true technology leader — a nation that creates, innovates, and delivers for the world,” he said.
