Bengaluru: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday extended an invitation to global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to explore and utilise the expanding opportunities in India’s defence ecosystem.
During a CEOs’ roundtable at Aero India 2025, Singh highlighted the critical importance of adapting to the current volatile geopolitical landscape and developing innovative defence solutions.
Pointing to the increasingly complex nature of modern military communications and data sharing, he stressed the growing significance of integrated warfare systems.
Singh, who drew inspiration from the ancient Indian strategist Kautilya, underscored the govt’s commitment to national security and the comprehensive equipping of armed forces. He stressed that the current global security environment demands constant evolution and improvement of defence technologies.
On the govt’s strategic approach, Singh outlined policy reforms designed to attract international defence manufacturers. The initiatives include liberalised FDI regulations, with such overseas investment permitted up to 75% through the automatic route for new defence licences. The govt has already established defence industrial corridors, signing over 250 MoUs for industrial units in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, the defence testing infrastructure scheme is set to develop 6-8 greenfield facilities, further enhancing India’s manufacturing capabilities.
The roundtable, themed ‘Enabling Defence Cooperation through Global Engagement (EDGE)’, brought together a consortium of OEMs from 19 countries. Prominent international manufacturers, including Airbus, Mitsubishi, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, participated in discussions on potential collaborations, joint ventures, and production partnerships with Indian companies.
Singh also pointed out that the country now hosts the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, with an anticipated year-on-year growth of 10-12%. The minister invited global manufacturers to leverage this dynamic environment, positioning the roundtable as a critical platform for exploring collaborative opportunities in defence production.
Senior defence officials, including the chief of defence staff, service chiefs, and key govt secretaries, were in attendance, emphasising the strategic importance of the event.