India’s defense exports have reached a record high of over $4 billion in the past fiscal year, reflecting the government’s push to strengthen the domestic arms manufacturing sector.
The rise represents a more than 60 percent increase from 2024, according to the Ministry of Defense, underscoring India’s goal of establishing itself as a major global arms producer and exporter. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described it as “an all-time high” and a sign of growing international confidence in India’s indigenous capabilities and advanced manufacturing. The fiscal year 2025-26 saw exports totaling ₹38,424 billion ($4.15 billion).
Government defense companies contributed around 55 percent of these exports, with private firms supplying the remainder. Singh highlighted this milestone as evidence of the strength of a collaborative, self-reliant defense ecosystem.
India exports military equipment to more than 100 countries. Key customers include the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Armenia. Exported items range from missiles, boats, artillery, radar systems, and rocket launchers to electronics and aero components.
Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized defense exports under flagship programs like “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” aiming to provide military equipment to friendly nations and high-income countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the USA.
Among the top buyers, the USA imports bulletproof jackets, helmets, firearm parts, electronics, and aero components from Indian companies including Aventel, Boeing India, Tata Advanced Systems, and GKN Aerospace Engine Systems India. Israel purchases a similar range of equipment from firms like Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems, Adani-Elbit, Larsen and Toubro, and PLR Systems. The UK, France, and Germany also feature prominently, with purchases spanning aerospace components, subsystems, and protective equipment.
Emerging markets such as Armenia and the Philippines have increasingly relied on Indian arms. Armenia has procured Akash-1S surface-to-air missile systems, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), Swathi Weapon Locating Radars, and Zen Anti-Drone Systems. The Philippines signed a $375 million deal in 2022 for shore-based BrahMos missile batteries and is exploring additional acquisitions under its Horizon 3 modernization program. Indonesia has also agreed to procure BrahMos missiles for naval defense modernization.
While India continues to be one of the largest global arms importers, the country has steadily increased indigenous content in its own forces while expanding its presence in international defense markets.
