India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative continues to propel the nation toward true self-reliance, with the defence sector emerging as a standout success story. The country’s defence exports surged to an all-time high of ₹236.2 billion in FY25, marking a 34-fold increase over the past 11 years — up from just ₹6.8 billion in FY14 — and reflecting a 12% year-on-year growth.
Both Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the private sector played key roles in this transformation. The private sector led the charge with ₹152.3 billion, accounting for 64.5% of total exports, while DPSUs contributed ₹83.9 billion, recording an impressive 43.8% growth during the year.
This robust performance underscores India’s growing prominence in global defence markets and its ability to integrate into international supply chains. In FY25, the country exported a diverse range of defence equipment — including ammunition, arms, sub-systems, and critical components — to nearly 80 countries.
With the government targeting ₹500 billion in defence exports by FY29, the sector’s trajectory looks promising. Among the leading contributors to this export momentum is Astra Microwave, a Hyderabad-based company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of defence, aerospace, and space electronics systems and sub-systems. As one of the few Indian firms capable of producing radar and tactical electronics, Astra Microwave exemplifies the spirit of innovation driving India’s march toward defence self-reliance.
