Archive · 22 Jul 2026
India's Defence Transformation: From Importer to Global Exporter
India has made a big change in its defence sector.
It used to rely on other countries for its military needs, but now it makes its own advanced defence technologies and even exports them.
A scientist named Prahlada Rama Rao talked about this at a lecture.
He mentioned that India now exports things like drones, AI surveillance platforms, and missile systems like BrahMos and Akash.
The Akash missile system, which he worked on, took 15 years to develop and involves over 1,000 scientists.
India's defence research organization, DRDO, has also become a platform that connects different parts of the industry to make the defence sector stronger.
The goal is to make India self-reliant and secure by combining youthful innovation and industrial competitiveness.
India has transformed from a defence importer to a self-reliant producer and exporter of advanced defence technologies.
Major export items include unmanned aerial vehicles, AI-enabled surveillance platforms, and missile systems like BrahMos and Akash.
The Akash missile system, developed over 15 years, involves over 1,000 scientists and 12 national laboratories.
DRDO has become a dynamic national innovation platform connecting academia, private industry, startups, and public sector undertakings.
India's vision for a secure and self-reliant future hinges on the synergy between youthful innovation and industrial competitiveness.
- Who
- Prahlada Rama Rao, Chief Innovation Officer at Hylenr Technologies Pvt. Ltd., former DRDO Distinguished Scientist, and former Vice Chancellor of DIAT (DU)
- What
- India's transformation from a defence importer to a global exporter of advanced defence technologies
- When
- During the 13th Dr V Bhujanga Rao Endowment Lecture
- Where
- Visakhapatnam, India
- Why
- To highlight India's self-reliance and innovation in defence technologies
Self-Reliance in Defence
Dependence on Imports
Defence Production
Self-Reliance in Defence
India has successfully transformed into a self-reliant producer and exporter of advanced defence technologies.
Dependence on Imports
India was previously dependent on imports for its defence needs.
- Chief Innovation Officer
- Prahlada Rama Rao
- Former DRDO Distinguished Scientist
- Prahlada Rama Rao
- Former Vice Chancellor of DIAT (DU)
- Prahlada Rama Rao
- Event
- 13th Dr V Bhujanga Rao Endowment Lecture
- Host
- GITAM Deemed to be University in collaboration with the Condition Monitoring Society of India (CMSI)
- Theme
- Strength in Defence: The key for Atmanirbharta and Viksit Bharat
- Project Director for the Akash Missile Programme
- Dr. Rao
- Duration of Akash Missile Programme
- 15 years
- Number of Scientists Involved
- Over 1,000
- Number of National Laboratories Involved
- 12