How private firms are arming our forces
has spotlighted India's evolving military capabilities, revealing the emergence of a robust private defence sector central to the nation's security.
A decade ago, public sector undertakings and imported technology dominated India's defence narrative.
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Today, the private sector drives innovation, not merely filling gaps. Companies such as Tata Advanced Systems (TAS), Alpha Design Technologies (ADTL), Paras Defence & Space Technologies, ideaForge, and IG Drones have transitioned from being niche players to critical partners in delivering cutting-edge systems for modern warfare.
List of drones and other details
Pvt push to defence
TAS, with its legacy in aerospace and defence integration, offers comprehensive solutions, including radars, missiles and
UAV
systems, for Indian military.
In collaboration with Airbus Spain, it produces the C-295 military transport aircraft at India's first private military aircraft plant in Vadodara, Gujarat. Paras Defence — recognised for its credentials in indigenous design, development and manufacturing — sets benchmarks in electronic warfare, optics and drones. Similarly, Alpha Design provides a range of systems from radars to tank components and satellite payloads.
Other conglomerates like Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Adani Group, and Bharat Forge have significantly expanded their defence portfolios. L&T secured contracts worth Rs 13,369 crore for high-powered radar systems and close-in weapons systems. Adani Defence & Aerospace inaugurated two ammunition and missile-manufacturing facilities in the UP defence corridor, aiming to produce 150 million rounds of small-calibre ammunition annually and meeting 25% of India's requirement.
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It's a d(r)one thing
The private sector's impact is most visible in drone technology. India's military drone journey began in the 1990s with Israeli
UAVs
such as the IAI Searcher and Heron. Recognising their strategic value, India started to build its own capabilities. The Kargil War in 1999 highlighted the need for real-time intelligence, prompting DRDO and private firms to accelerate UAV development.
Cut to May 2025 and the Indian armed forces now operate a growing fleet of UAVs, with many more in development.
Operation Sindoor underscored the central role of indigenous drones, driven by private firms, in India's military doctrine covering tactical and high-altitude intel and reconnaissance platforms. ideaForge's
SWITCH UAV
and NETRA V2 quadcopter, co-developed with DRDO, has entered service. Alpha Design's partnership with Israel's Elbit Systems produced advanced systems like the SkyStriker loitering munition, enabling precision strikes during Operation Sindoor.
Solar Industries' Nagastra-1 bolstered India's tactical strike options, while NewSpace Research & Technologies delivered drone-swarm capabilities to IAF.
In the pipeline
The development pipeline includes logistics-focused platforms such as Garuda Aerospace's Jatayu, a heavy-lift drone, and SkyPod for high-altitude resupply in terrains like Siachen. Tactical drones, such as Throttle Aerospace's Raven and AI-driven swarm control systems from NewSpace and 114AI demonstrate how Indian startups are shaping defence trends.
The Drone Federation of India, representing over 550 companies and 5,500 pilots, has built this ecosystem. It aims to have India as a global drone hub by 2030. IG Drones underlines how the new wave of defence tech firms are specialising in R&D, manufacturing and services. Its collaborations with the Army and other govt bodies integrate private expertise into defence planning and execution.
India's defence exports reached nearly Rs 24,000 crore ($2.9 billion) in FY25, with private firms playing a central role.
Govt's target of Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029 depends on sustained private sector growth. The Indian drone market alone is projected to reach $11 billion by 2030, accounting for over 12% of the global share, signalling opportunities for private firms and strengthening national security.
Earlier this month, defence stocks, both public and private, rallied by up to 4% after PM
, referencing Operation Sindoor, called for greater military self-reliance.
'We have proven our dominance in new-age warfare,' he stated. 'We must lead in defence innovation through indigenous technology.'
Operation Sindoor's success resulted from policy changes supporting private defence manufacturing. Since 2021, the ban on imported drones and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, with a Rs 120-crore outlay, turbocharged local innovation. Indigenous defence production reached Rs 1.3 lakh crore in FY24, with a rising share going to private players.
Programmes like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and SRIJAN (for import substitution) opened doors for both startups and established firms.
Beyond Operation Sindoor
The private sector's role continues to evolve, with the future focusing on autonomous, AI-driven systems where private companies excel in talent and agility. Operation Sindoor demonstrated that the fusion of private innovation, public sector support, and military vision enables India to assert itself as a high-tech military power.
Space-based capabilities will be a key component of this future. Although India lags the US and China in military satellites, it is moving ahead with firms like
Digantara
(space situational awareness), Pixxel (Earth observation),
Dhruva Space
(satellites and ground systems), and Ananth Technologies developing key capabilities.
Earlier this year, three private firms based in South India were picked to co-develop 31 satellites under the Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) programme, marking the first time private players are building satellites for strategic use.
This third phase of the programme, building on previous Cartosat and Risat launches, will enhance India's space surveillance capacity with 52 satellites in
GEO
(geostationary) and LEO (low Earth orbit). Isro will develop 21, while the private sector will deliver 31.
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