India Well On Track To Achieve ₹50,000 Crore Defence Export Target By 2030: Defence Secretary

India is well placed to achieve its target of ₹50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2030, with overseas demand for indigenous military equipment continuing to grow, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said. He attributed the momentum to rising global demand, changing geopolitical conditions and the steady expansion of India's defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Speaking in an interview with Moneycontrol, Singh said the country recorded defence exports of nearly ₹39,000 crore in the previous financial year and expressed confidence that the government's 2030 target is comfortably within reach.

Export Base Continues To Expand

According to Singh, around 145 Indian companies are currently exporting defence products ranging from personal protection equipment, such as bulletproof jackets and ballistic helmets, to sophisticated weapon systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akash surface-to-air missile.

He also pointed out that public sector defence companies are witnessing higher overseas demand, particularly for artillery ammunition and standard shells. The changing global security environment, he said, has encouraged many countries to strengthen their defence inventories, creating fresh opportunities for Indian manufacturers.

During FY26, India issued nearly 1,800 defence export authorisations covering shipments to more than 100 countries, reflecting the widening global footprint of domestic defence companies.

More Overseas Orders In The Pipeline

The defence secretary said India sees considerable export potential in platforms where products are already proven and production capabilities are well established.

He cited the Dornier aircraft, BrahMos missile system, Akash air defence system, and indigenous artillery platforms as examples of products attracting growing international interest.

On BrahMos exports, Singh said the Philippines remains the first confirmed overseas customer, while negotiations with Indonesia and Vietnam are nearing completion.

He also referred to India's defence exports to Armenia, noting that the success of artillery systems supplied there has generated interest from several other countries.

Defence Exports Have Grown Sharply

India's defence exports have expanded at a remarkable pace over the past decade. Government data shows India's defence exports have increased from ₹686 crore in FY14 to ₹38,424 crore in FY26. It is an increase of more than 5,500% over the past twelve years.

The growth has been supported by the Make in India initiative and the government's continued emphasis on building domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.

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