Nashik (Maharashtra): India aims to achieve 100 per cent self-reliance in defence production to eliminate its “strategic vulnerability” arising from dependence on foreign military supplies, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.
Singh made the remarks after inaugurating the third production line of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A and the second manufacturing facility for the HTT-40 trainer jet in Nashik. With the new facility, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is expected to produce at least 24 LCA aircraft.
“There was a time when nearly 65–70 per cent of our defence equipment was imported,” Singh said. “Today, India manufactures around 65 per cent of its defence needs domestically. Very soon, we aim to take this figure to 100 per cent.”
Highlighting India’s growing defence capabilities, Singh said defence exports have touched a record ₹25,000 crore, up from less than ₹1,000 crore a few years ago. “We have now set a target to achieve ₹3 lakh crore in domestic defence manufacturing and ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029,” he added.
