Archive · 28 Sep 2026
India’s Defence Spending Opens Larger Market for Private Firms
The Indian government plans to spend much more money on defence equipment in FY27.
A part of this money may go to private Indian defence companies.
India is also making more defence products at home and selling them to other countries.
Private companies are receiving a larger share of this work than before.
The government wants India’s defence production and exports to grow further by FY29.
Large military projects are creating orders for aircraft, missiles, ships and other equipment.
Smaller Indian companies and start-ups are being encouraged to supply parts and develop new technologies.
Europe is also increasing defence spending, which could give Indian companies more export opportunities.
Together, these changes are expanding India’s defence industry beyond government procurement.
India’s FY27 defence capital outlay is about Rs 1.9 lakh crore, up 24% from the previous year.
Private defence companies could access about Rs 34,700 crore, or roughly 25% of the domestic capital acquisition budget.
Defence production reached a record Rs 1.8 lakh crore in FY26, while exports rose 63% to around Rs 38,000 crore.
Private firms’ share of defence output increased to 24% in FY26 from 22% in FY25.
Growing Indian orders, indigenisation programmes and European demand are creating opportunities for domestic defence manufacturers.
- Who
- The Indian government, private defence companies, public-sector defence manufacturers and defence start-ups are involved.
- What
- India is increasing defence spending and expanding opportunities for domestic private firms and exporters.
- When
- The main figures concern FY26 and FY27, with production and export targets set for FY29.
- Where
- The opportunities are in India, including its Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu defence corridors, and in overseas markets including Europe.
- Why
- The government is seeking greater domestic defence production, indigenisation, technology development and exports.
- FY27 capital outlay
- About Rs 1.9 lakh crore, up 24% year-on-year
- Private-firm allocation
- About Rs 34,700 crore, or roughly 25% of domestic capital acquisition
- FY26 defence production
- Record Rs 1.8 lakh crore, up 15.6% from the previous year
- FY26 defence exports
- Around Rs 38,000 crore, up 63%
- FY29 production target
- Rs 3 lakh crore
- FY29 export target
- Rs 50,000 crore
- FY26 approved proposals
- The Defence Acquisition Council cleared 55 proposals worth about Rs 6.8 lakh crore
- European opportunity
- The European Union’s SAFE mechanism offers up to €150 billion in long-maturity loans for defence-related projects