The contrast between India’s defence position then and now is striking. A country once known predominantly for purchasing weapons is steadily becoming a country that designs, manufactures and exports them.
Armenia demonstrates India’s growing reach into new defence markets. South Korea demonstrates how international technology partnerships can contribute to Indian manufacturing. Together, they illustrate a broader transformation—from import dependence to industrial capability, from procurement to partnership, and from customer to exporter.
India’s record ₹38,424-crore defence exports in FY 2025–26 are therefore more than a financial statistic. They represent an expanding industrial ecosystem and a growing role for Indian defence technology in international security relationships.
Reference Sources
- Press Information Bureau — Defence exports reach ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26
- Press Information Bureau — Defence production reaches ₹1.78 lakh crore
- Indian Council of World Affairs — India-Armenia Defence Cooperation
- Press Information Bureau — Guided Pinaka rockets for Armenia
- Press Information Bureau — India-South Korea defence cooperation, May 2026
- Embassy of India, Seoul — India-Korea Defence Industry Cooperation
