In what comes as a key milestone in India's push for self-reliance in defence and plans to emerge as a major global defence exporter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Sunday, flagged off the first tranche of guided Pinaka rockets, manufactured by the Pune-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), to Armenia.
Armenia had, in September 2022, signed a ₹2,000 crore contract for four Pinaka batteries, including unguided, extended-range, and guided variants. Armenia was the first international customer for the Pinaka system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Deliveries of the initial Pinaka unguided systems began in July 2023 and were completed by late 2024.
Singh said the exports of Pinaka missiles demonstrate the capabilities of the defence industry in further strengthening the export potential of the country. India is no longer just an importer but is rapidly moving towards becoming an exporter, he said.
Singh also inaugurated the a medium calibre ammunition facility at SDAL in Nagpur. The facility is a fully automated plant manufacturing 30mm ammunition, which is extensively used by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy.
Singh's call to private sector
Observing that India is steadily marching forward in ammunition production as it is manufacturing quality and reliable products, Singh said, the government is focusing on ensuring that the private sector’s role in defence manufacturing reaches 50 per cent or more in the coming days.
He praised the Solar group for the manufacturing of the Nagastra drones, which were successfully used during Operation Sindoor, and hailed the the development of more advanced versions of Nagastra. Singh exuded confidence that the weapons would prove extremely lethal to the nation’s enemies if needed in the future.
Singh noted that said that the successful test launch of the 'Bhargavastra' Counter Drone System, being developed by SDAL, showcases the technological capabilities of the private sector.
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“New methods of warfare are emerging. Wars are no longer confined to borders. Areas such as energy, trade, tariffs, supply chains, technology, and information have also become new dimensions of conflict. The importance of border vigilance and the latest weapons and technologies has increased. Irrespective of the nature of war, the need for a robust defence industrial base will always remain. In such a situation, increased private sector involvement in manufacturing and research & development is the need of the hour,” Singh said.
The capabilities and innovations of the private sector clearly demonstrate its full potential, Singh said, adding that he is confident that the 50 per cent target will soon be achieved.
He assured that the government is making every effort to strengthen the private sector and promote domestic vendors.
"We have decided to gradually indigenise our platforms, systems, and subsystems. Even for those things that we cannot manufacture, a provision for at least 50 per cent indigenous content has been made. As a result of these efforts, we have been successful in increasing our indigenous content in many areas. This has also boosted the morale of the private sector,” he said.
Singh pointed out that India possesses a unique and effective blend of both public and private sectors in its defence manufacturing ecosystem and called it the country's greatest strength.
“We have capable and experienced public sector institutions, along with a strong and rapidly growing private sector. This balance is quite rare. There is a need to deepen this synergy, further enhance the capabilities of the private sector, constantly update them, and provide them with new technology, new opportunities, and new responsibilities, so that they can move forward in tandem with the public sector," Singh said, even as he highlighted the need for the public and private sectors to complement each other.