New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed India’s growing indigenous defence capabilities, saying the country’s military strength has undergone a major transformation over the past decade driven by self-reliance, innovation and homegrown technologies.
His remarks came shortly after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India’s annual defence production touched an all-time high of Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “India’s defence capabilities have witnessed significant transformation over the last decade, guided by the vision of self-reliance and powered by innovation, technology and indigenous manufacturing.”
The Prime Minister also shared a thread by MyGovIndia highlighting the country’s progress in strengthening defence capabilities across land, sea and air through indigenous technologies.
“This thread explains how India has strengthened its defence capabilities across air, land and sea, advanced indigenous technologies and built a stronger foundation for self-reliance and national security,” he wrote.
The thread showcased some of India’s major defence achievements over the past 12 years, including the indigenous fighter jet Tejas, the Akash missile system, the Agni-V ballistic missile and the country’s first home-built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
Tejas, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was highlighted as a key pillar of India’s combat aviation ecosystem, with the induction of the Mk-1A variant and development of the more advanced Mk-2 version underway.
The DRDO-developed Akash missile system was cited for its improved target-tracking and interception capabilities, while the Agni-V missile was described as a major milestone that places India among a select group of nations possessing advanced long-range strategic deterrence systems.
INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was showcased as a symbol of the country’s technological capabilities and maritime strength.
Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh said defence production had risen by 110 per cent since FY2020-21, increasing from Rs 84,643 crore to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY2025-26, underscoring the rapid expansion of India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
