The Tamil Nadu government is intensifying efforts to position the state as a leading aerospace and defence (A&D) manufacturing hub, conducting industry outreach programmes across multiple cities to highlight emerging opportunities in India’s fast-growing defence sector.
Strong Growth in Defence Production
At an industry interaction held in Madurai under the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC), officials from the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) noted that India’s defence production crossed ₹1.54 lakh crore last year, while exports exceeded ₹38,000 crore.
They added that with the Centre targeting ₹3 lakh crore in production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029, Tamil Nadu aims to capture a significant share of future investments and manufacturing contracts.
Focus on High-Value Defence Programmes
Officials highlighted major opportunities across key defence and aerospace projects, including Future Ready Combat Vehicles, Future Infantry Combat Vehicles, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, Medium Role Fighter Aircraft, submarines, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, propellants, and the space sector.
These programmes are expected to open large-scale opportunities for both MSMEs and major manufacturers to integrate into domestic and global supply chains.
Support for Industry Participation
The state is encouraging companies to participate in initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), DRDO’s Technology Development Fund, technology transfer programmes, the Srijan indigenisation portal, and export-driven defence manufacturing opportunities.
Policy Push and Infrastructure Development
Under the Tamil Nadu Aerospace and Defence Industrial Policy, the state has introduced several support measures including higher capital subsidies, certification assistance, vendor development programmes, common facility centres, and advanced testing infrastructure.
Tamil Nadu is also collaborating with IIT Madras and DRDO to improve access to defence technologies and strengthen innovation support.
Defence Corridor and Industrial Ecosystem
Through the Defence Industrial Corridor, the state is developing aerospace and defence parks, engineering and innovation hubs, testing facilities, and Centres of Excellence in advanced manufacturing to support startups and MSMEs and reduce entry barriers.
Road to National Summit
The outreach programme in Madurai is part of a larger series of consultations in Coimbatore, Hosur, Tiruchi, Chennai, and Madurai ahead of the national summit on Atmanirbharata in Defence Manufacturing, scheduled in New Delhi on August 20 and 21.
The summit will focus on strengthening state-level defence ecosystems, aligning them with national indigenisation goals, and preparing state-specific action plans.
State Proposal to Centre
Tamil Nadu has also submitted a detailed presentation on its Aerospace and Defence Industrial Policy 2022, highlighting defence clusters, investor engagements, infrastructure facilities, skill development initiatives, and areas requiring central support, according to sources
