The Valedictory event of the 15th edition of Aero India in Bengaluru highlighted India’s efforts in defence manufacturing and indigenisation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the gathering, emphasizing the role of domestic defence production and private sector involvement in achieving self-reliance.
During the event, Singh stated that India has significantly reduced its reliance on defence imports over the past decade. Previously, 65-70% of defence equipment was imported, whereas the same proportion is now being manufactured domestically. He also noted that India is exporting defence products, including fighter jets, missile systems, and naval vessels.
India’s defence industrial sector consists of 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), 430 licensed companies, and approximately 16,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The private sector accounts for 21% of total defence production. The government has introduced various policies to support both public and private sector participation, including revisions to the Defence Acquisition Procedure and initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), and the Technology Development Fund (TDF).
Aero India 2025 also featured ‘Samarthya,’ an indigenisation event showcasing 33 defence manufacturing projects. The exhibition included contributions from DPSUs, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Navy, and projects under iDEX. Among the displayed items were components for anti-aircraft machine guns, submarines, tanks, missile systems, naval weapons, and electronic warfare systems.
Three publications were released during the event: a Coffee Table Booklet titled ‘Samarthya’ on indigenisation, the Compendium of Problem Definition Statement (CPDS) 2025, and a booklet from the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS). The CPDS outlines 82 problem statements across 11 functional domains of warfare, including artificial intelligence, communications, electronic warfare, situational awareness, and logistics. It aims to facilitate collaboration between the Indian Army and industry stakeholders to develop solutions for operational challenges.
The event also included recognition of individuals from DPSUs, DRDO, and industry partners for their contributions to indigenisation. Attendees included Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar.
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