Abstract

The aerospace and defence (A&D) sector is essential to a country’s strategic autonomy, technical growth, and national security. Driven by government programs aiming at self-reliance, modernisation of the armed forces, and growing military requirements, the aerospace and defence industry has become an important part of industrial growth in India. India needs a strong and cutting-edge indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem since it has one of the biggest armed forces in the world. In the past, India’s defence and aerospace needs were mostly met by imports. However, this reliance made the nation vulnerable to supply-chain instability, foreign exchange outflows, and strategic weaknesses. To boost domestic manufacturing capabilities and promote private sector involvement, the Indian government implemented policy reforms including Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy.  Defence Public Sector Undertakings recently corporatised ordnance manufacturers, private sector businesses, and up-and-coming start-ups make up the Indian. Missile systems, military electronics, and aircraft manufacture are all dominated by major public sector companies including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and Bharat Dynamics Limited. Concurrently, private firms like as Larsen & Toubro, Tata Group, and Adani military and Aerospace have achieved substantial advancements in modern military technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, naval systems, and aerospace structures. With a growing focus on R&D, the indigenisation of essential components, and cooperation with international original equipment manufacturers, the industry has experienced significant technical advancement. India’s capabilities in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, space systems, cyber security, and autonomous platforms have also been reinforced by the expansion of military start-ups and innovation hubs. All things considered, India’s aerospace and military sector is going through a structural change from an import-dependent framework to one that is independent and focused on exports. In addition to improving national security, this change helps India become a competitive player in the global military industry and promotes economic growth and job creation.