As Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor in May, the defence forces blasted drones out of the air with missiles which was a glimpse of new vision by India. "The operation was a sign of the new art of warfare, a glimpse of a new vision, technological advancements and self-reliance," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in August.
India believes this combat display — which included the unveiling of its domestically developed “invisible shield” missile defence system — has boosted its credentials as a rising arms exporter.
The May hostilities between India and Pakistan, which was the deadliest since Kargil in 1999, left more than 70 dead in missile, drone and artillery strikes.
A senior Indian Army officer told AFP the exchanges offered a “very good understanding” of battlefield performance. “These were golden insights for us — and our rapidly expanding industry partners,” the officer said.
Among the weapons put to the test was Akashteer, or “Sky Arrow” — a vehicle-mounted, AI-powered air defence system that intercepted volleys of missiles and drones. India also launched multiple long-range BrahMos cruise missiles at Pakistani airbases.
The BrahMos, co-developed with Russia and already exported to the Philippines, received renewed global attention after the clash. Singh told AFP in July: “Because of the stellar performance of these BrahMos missiles, 14 or 15 countries have reached out to supply these missiles.”
Ashok Malik of The Asia Group consultancy added that the conflict acted “like a market demonstrator,” telling AFP: “It is one thing for me to buy something which you’ve made. It is another to buy something which you’ve made and successfully used in the field.”
As part of its “Make in India” drive, the government has announced plans to develop fighter jet engines and roll out an indigenous version of Israel’s Iron Dome, dubbed Sudarshan Chakra after Lord Vishnu’s spinning discus.
India’s fast-growing drone sector, projected to be worth $11 billion by 2030, has also been flagged as a future growth engine. Several indigenous drones are already being co-developed with Israeli firms.
But hurdles remain. Junior Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol told parliament in April that 39 percent of critical small drone components are still “sourced from manufacturers based in China.”
Long known as one of the world’s top arms importers, India is determined to rebrand itself as a leading producer and seller of defence hardware. Exports touched a record $2.8 billion in 2024-25, 12 percent higher than the previous year and 34 times greater than a decade ago, according to official data cited by AFP. Domestic production surged to $18 billion, nearly doubling in five years.
India now supplies defence equipment to more than 100 countries — including the United States, France and Armenia — with exports spanning missiles, artillery, boats, rocket launchers, radar systems, software and electronic components.
*With AFP Inputs
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