[🇮🇳] India's weapon development, Testing, Purchase, sale, upgrade, Collaborations and Joint venture in Defense sectors.

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Exports rise 30 times, 'Made in Bihar' boots used by Russia: Defence report​

Story by Shivani Sharma
• 23h•
2 min read

Exports rise 30 times, 'Made in Bihar' boots used by Russia: Defence report
India's defence production surged to a record high of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 174% rise since 2014-15, driven by the Make in India initiative. According to a report by the Ministry of Defence, defence exports have also hit a record Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, expanding 30 times in a decade, with equipment being sent to over 100 countries.

India is now targeting Rs 3 lakh crore in defense production by 2029 in a bid to become a global defense manufacturing hub. It also aims to jack up exports to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.

The surge in the Defense budget, from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26, underlines the focus on strengthening the military infrastructure, the report said.

The growth in defense production has been bolstered by the development of advanced military platforms, including the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Akash Missile System, as well as naval assets like destroyers, indigenous aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, and offshore patrol vessels.

The report highlights that 65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically. Previously, 65-70% of equipment had to be imported.


India's robust defence industrial base includes 16 DPSUs, over 430 licenced companies, and approximately 16,000 MSMEs. According to the report, the private sector contributes 21% to total defence production.

DEFENCE EXPORTS​

India's defence exports have surged by 32.5% year-on-year, rising from Rs 15,920 crore in FY 2022-23 to Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24. India's diverse export portfolio includes bulletproof jackets, Dornier (Do-228) aircraft, Chetak helicopters, fast interceptor boats, and lightweight torpedoes.

Notably, 'Made in Bihar' boots are now part of the Russian Army's gear. India now exports defence equipment to over 100 countries, with the USA, France, and Armenia emerging as the top buyers in 2023-24.

The Defence Ministry is also fostering a thriving ecosystem for innovation through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), launched in 2018. iDEX has provided grants of up to Rs 1.5 crore for developing innovative technologies. To further enhance self-reliance in defence technology, Rs 449.62 crore has been allocated to iDEX.

MSN

 

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Surface-to-air missile VL-SRSAM successfully flight-tested by DRDO​

VL-SRSAM being test fired from ITR off Odisha coast on Wednesday.
BHUBANESWAR: India on Wednesday successfully flight-tested vertically launched short range surface-to-air missile (VL-SRSAM) from a defence test facility off Odisha coast.

Indigenously developed by DRDO, the missile was test fired from a land-based vertical launcher positioned at Integrated Test Range (ITR) against a high-speed aerial target at very close range and low altitude.



Defence sources said the canisterised missile neutralised the aerial target at a very low altitude. The missile validated the near-boundary-low altitude capability of the missile system

“The target was completely destroyed by the missile executing the high turn rate required for engaging targets at very close range, and establishing the missile’s agility, reliability and pin-point accuracy,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.

The missile was test fired by DRDO in collaboration with the Indian Navy with all weapon system elements deployed in combat configuration. It was a part of a user associate trial to validate multiple updated elements of the weapon system.

“The elements, including the missile with indigenous radio frequency seeker, multi-function radar and weapon control system, have performed as per expectations. The performance of the system was validated by the flight data captured by various Range Instruments developed by ITR Chandipur,” said a defence official.

With high kill probability, the missile can identify, track and destroy targets at a range up to 80 km. It is capable of neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea skimming targets. The system can provide point and area defence against various aerial targets like jets, fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles.

DRDO chairman and secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development Samir V Kamat said the missile, equipped with modern technologies, will give further technological boost to the armed forces.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams from DRDO and the Indian Navy for their achievement.

MSN