The Indian Navy has also pushed hard on indigenisation. Currently, 61 warships and submarines are under various stages of construction within India. Notably, two stealth frigates—Udaygiri and Himgiri—are slated to be commissioned in Visakhapatnam this month. The recently inducted INS Vagsheer marks the sixth Kalvari-class submarine to enter service.The Army, too, has made advances. Indigenous long-range artillery guns are now operational, and the Light Tank Zorawar, designed for high-altitude deployment along the northern borders, is in an advanced stage of development.Alongside offensive platforms, efforts are underway to localise radar systems, sensors, and surveillance equipment. However, engine manufacturing—particularly for aircraft—remains a critical weak spot. While helicopter engine production has begun under joint ventures, deeper R&D investment is essential to close the gap.Missile systems—like Akash, Agni, and Prithvi—remain some of India’s most successful indigenous programmes. The Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile is a standout, with exports already underway, making it India’s first major defence export in this category.While India’s defence modernisation remains a work in progress, the shift toward self-reliance is unmistakable. A robust combination of government policy push, strategic joint ventures, and domestic capability building is steadily transforming India from a major arms importer into an emerging defence manufacturer of consequence.
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