Kolkata: For decades, India was one of the world’s largest importers of military hardware, relying heavily on foreign suppliers for fighter aircraft, submarines, artillery systems, missiles and other critical defence platforms. That strategic dependence is now changing rapidly. India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem has expanded significantly, indigenous technological capabilities have matured, and military exports are reaching an increasing number of countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s defence exports reached a record ₹23,622 crore (approximately US$2.8 billion) in FY 2024–25—a more than thirty-fold increase over the past decade. During the same period, indigenous defence production touched an all-time high of ₹1.46 lakh crore. These achievements represent more than industrial success; they reflect a fundamental shift in India’s strategic thinking.
India’s defence sector is no longer confined to strengthening national security or promoting industrial development. Increasingly, defence exports are emerging as an important instrument of foreign policy, enabling New Delhi to build strategic partnerships, strengthen regional security architectures and expand its international influence without relying solely on traditional diplomatic or military tools. As geopolitical competition intensifies and countries seek to diversify their defence partnerships, India’s growing military-industrial capability is evolving into a strategic asset rather than merely a commercial opportunity.
From Import Dependence to Strategic Manufacturing
For much of the post-Independence period, India’s strategic autonomy was constrained by its dependence on imported military equipment. Despite developing credible missile technology and a nuclear deterrent, much of its conventional military capability continued to rely on suppliers such as Russia, France, Israel and the United States. Disruptions in global supply chains, restrictions on technology transfers and shifting geopolitical relationships have repeatedly demonstrated the vulnerabilities associated with excessive import dependence.
Over the past decade, successive governments have sought to reverse this trend through initiatives such as Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the establishment of defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, reforms to defence acquisition procedures, and greater participation by the private sector. The objective has been not merely import substitution but the creation of a globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting India’s long-term strategic ambitions.
The results are now increasingly visible. Public sector enterprises such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders have significantly expanded their production capabilities. At the same time, private companies including Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge and Adani Defence have established themselves in high-technology manufacturing across aerospace, artillery, electronics, unmanned systems and naval platforms.
This diversification has not only strengthened India’s industrial base but has also enhanced its resilience against geopolitical supply-chain disruptions. More importantly, the implications extend well beyond manufacturing. A country capable of designing, producing and exporting sophisticated defence systems enjoys greater diplomatic flexibility and strategic influence. Defence production, therefore, is evolving into an extension of India’s broader quest for strategic autonomy rather than remaining solely an economic or industrial policy objective.
Defence Exports as Strategic Diplomacy
Unlike conventional commercial exports, defence equipment creates long-term institutional relationships between governments, armed forces and defence industries. Military platforms require decades of maintenance, software upgrades, spare parts, technical support and training. Every export agreement, therefore, extends well beyond a commercial transaction, fostering enduring strategic partnerships between nations.
India is increasingly recognising the diplomatic value of defence cooperation. The supply of patrol vessels to Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives, the installation of coastal surveillance radar systems across the Indian Ocean Region, and the export of military equipment to friendly countries illustrate New Delhi’s growing emphasis on capacity building rather than power projection. Instead of relying solely on military deployments, India is strengthening regional partnerships through technology transfer, institutional cooperation and defence capacity enhancement.
For many developing countries, India represents an attractive alternative because its defence partnerships are often accompanied by training, technical assistance and cost-effective military platforms, without many of the political conditions sometimes associated with larger arms exporters. This approach not only reinforces India’s reputation as a dependable strategic partner but also expands its diplomatic influence across the Global South.
The BrahMos Deal: Defence Exports as Foreign Policy
Perhaps the strongest illustration of India’s evolving defence diplomacy is the US$375 million BrahMos missile agreement with the Philippines, signed in 2022, with deliveries commencing in 2024. It marked India’s first major export of a supersonic cruise missile system and demonstrated New Delhi’s willingness to export one of its most advanced indigenous defence technologies to a key strategic partner.
The geopolitical significance of the agreement extends far beyond its commercial value. As maritime tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea, particularly between the Philippines and China, the BrahMos coastal defence system strengthens Manila’s deterrence capabilities while contributing to the broader regional balance of power without requiring direct Indian military involvement. The agreement also reflects India’s commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, reinforcing its vision of regional security based on international law and freedom of navigation.
The BrahMos deal has further enhanced India’s credibility as a supplier of advanced defence technologies. Rather than being viewed merely as a provider of lower-cost alternatives, India is increasingly emerging as a credible source of sophisticated strategic capabilities. Interest shown by countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and several Middle Eastern partners underscores the growing international confidence in India’s indigenous defence industry. More importantly, these partnerships expand India’s diplomatic reach while reinforcing its role as an emerging security partner in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Defence Exports
India’s expanding defence partnerships closely complement its broader Indo-Pacific strategy. As concerns over maritime security, freedom of navigation and supply-chain resilience continue to grow, many countries are seeking defence partners capable of providing cost-effective, interoperable and politically reliable military capabilities. India’s emphasis on capacity building rather than alliance politics makes it an attractive security partner for countries across Southeast Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean Region that are seeking to diversify their strategic relationships.
Defence cooperation—including joint military exercises, technology transfer, maritime surveillance systems and professional military training—supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision while contributing to greater regional resilience against emerging security challenges. In this context, defence exports should not be viewed as isolated commercial transactions but as part of a broader geopolitical strategy that enables India to expand its strategic influence without maintaining a permanent military presence overseas.
India’s growing defence industry also presents an alternative model to Chinese military exports. China has become one of the world’s leading arms suppliers, particularly across Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. However, concerns relating to debt dependence, technological transparency, interoperability and political influence have encouraged several countries to diversify their procurement strategies.
India offers a different model of defence cooperation. Rather than treating defence exports primarily as instruments of geopolitical leverage, New Delhi emphasises long-term partnerships, local capacity building, institutional cooperation and strategic autonomy. This approach is consistent with India’s broader objective of promoting a multipolar international order in which middle powers enjoy greater policy independence and diversified security partnerships.
Challenges on the Road Ahead
Despite the significant progress made in recent years, India’s ambitions must be assessed realistically. Although defence exports have grown substantially, India remains a relatively small player compared with established exporters such as the United States, France and Russia. Sustaining this momentum will require addressing several structural challenges.
Production capacity remains one of the most significant constraints. Large international contracts demand timely delivery, consistent quality standards and scalable manufacturing capabilities. Indian defence manufacturers will need to continue expanding their industrial capacity if they are to compete successfully for major global procurement programmes.
Greater investment in research and development is equally essential. India has made notable advances in missile systems, naval platforms, radar technologies and electronic warfare capabilities. However, critical technology gaps remain in areas such as advanced aero-engines, next-generation propulsion systems, high-end sensors and cutting-edge aerospace technologies. Continued dependence on imported technologies in these sectors still limits India’s strategic autonomy.
Another challenge lies in streamlining export regulations and licensing procedures. While export approvals, procurement processes and inter-agency coordination have improved considerably, they often remain slower than those of more established defence exporters. In an increasingly competitive global arms market, lengthy bureaucratic processes can influence procurement decisions and reduce India’s competitiveness.
Equally important is the ability to provide comprehensive lifecycle support. International buyers evaluate defence suppliers not only on the quality of their equipment but also on the reliability of maintenance services, availability of spare parts, software upgrades, training and long-term technical assistance. Developing robust after-sales support networks will be essential if India is to establish itself as a dependable long-term strategic partner rather than merely a one-time supplier.
India must also continue strengthening its regulatory framework, export financing mechanisms and defence diplomacy to support the sustained expansion of its defence industry. Success in global defence markets will ultimately depend not only on technological capability but also on institutional credibility, reliability and the ability to deliver long-term strategic partnerships.
Conclusion
India’s defence exports should no longer be viewed merely as indicators of industrial growth or commercial success. They are increasingly becoming instruments through which New Delhi advances its foreign policy objectives, builds strategic partnerships and contributes to regional stability. The BrahMos agreement with the Philippines illustrates how defence cooperation can strengthen deterrence, reinforce political confidence and contribute to a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific without requiring direct military intervention.
The next phase of India’s defence diplomacy will therefore depend less on increasing export volumes and more on building the institutions that sustain long-term strategic partnerships. Expanding production capacity, investing in advanced research and development, streamlining export procedures and creating reliable global maintenance networks will be critical to this effort.
If these structural challenges are successfully addressed, India’s defence exports will become far more than a source of economic revenue. They will reinforce strategic partnerships, strengthen regional security, expand India’s diplomatic influence and position the country as a trusted security partner in an increasingly multipolar international order. In that sense, defence exports are steadily evolving into one of the most significant instruments of India’s foreign policy.
About the Author
Anusreeta Dutta is a researcher, policy analyst and columnist specialising in geopolitics, foreign policy, defence and strategic affairs, climate governance, energy transition and public policy. Her work has appeared in OPEN, Outlook India, Down To Earth, Policy Circle, Firstpost, Hindustan Times, CNN-News18 and other national and international publications.
