Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stated that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has reached a historic milestone in defence exports, touching a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26. This represents a strong 62.66 percent increase compared to the previous year.

In a post on X, Singh highlighted that the sharp rise demonstrates growing global confidence in India’s indigenous defence capabilities and advanced manufacturing. He noted that the increase of ₹14,802 crore over the previous fiscal reflects the country’s strengthening position in the global defence market.

He further explained that both public and private sectors played key roles in achieving this milestone. Defence Public Sector Undertakings contributed 54.84 percent of the exports, while private companies accounted for 45.16 percent, showcasing the effectiveness of a collaborative and self-reliant defence ecosystem.

Earlier, while speaking at an event in March, Singh mentioned that government initiatives are delivering tangible results. In FY 2024–25, domestic defence production exceeded ₹1.50 lakh crore, while exports reached around ₹24,000 crore. He added that exports were expected to climb to approximately ₹29,000 crore by April 2026, with a target of ₹50,000 crore set for FY 2029–30.

Emphasising the increasing role of the private sector, Singh said it currently contributes about 25 percent of defence production, a figure expected to rise to 50 percent in the near future. He also pointed out that all warships and submarines ordered by the Indian Navy are now being built in domestic shipyards, covering everything from design and engineering to construction and maintenance—marking a significant step toward self-reliance. He concluded by stressing that self-reliance in defence is no longer just an aspiration but a reality, noting that the vision of a “Builder’s Navy” has already been achieved on the ground.