Archive · 2 Sep 2026
India’s Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem Expands Into Export Markets
India is making more of its own defence equipment instead of buying it from other countries.
G. Satheesh Reddy said Indian companies now make missiles, bombs and guns.
He said private companies are important partners in this work.
The government has set aside ₹1.39 lakh crore to support local defence manufacturing.
Raghava Aerospace & Defence opened a facility in Kokapet.
The company works on electronics, aircraft technologies and composite materials.
It has also joined with Peridot Advanced Materials to develop the MALE-300 unmanned aircraft.
The company wants to sell its products in India and other countries.
Former DRDO chairman G. Satheesh Reddy said India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem has come of age.
Domestic companies now produce missiles, bombs and guns, while private industry represents about 40% of defence-manufacturing partners.
The government has earmarked ₹1.39 lakh crore for indigenous defence manufacturing under Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
Raghava Aerospace & Defence inaugurated a facility in Kokapet and has expanded through five acquisitions in defence technologies.
RADPL and Peridot Advanced Materials announced the indigenous MALE-300 unmanned aircraft joint venture.
- Who
- Former DRDO chairman G. Satheesh Reddy, Raghava Aerospace & Defence Pvt Ltd, and Peridot Advanced Materials.
- What
- Reddy highlighted the growth of India’s defence manufacturing sector, while RADPL inaugurated its facility and announced a MALE-300 aircraft joint venture.
- When
- Wednesday.
- Where
- RADPL’s facility in Kokapet, Hyderabad; the article also referenced Indian weapon systems displayed at Armenia’s Republic Day parade.
- Why
- To expand indigenous defence production and encourage Indian companies to pursue domestic manufacturing and exports.
- Government allocation
- ₹1.39 lakh crore of the defence budget was earmarked for indigenous manufacturing under Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
- Private-sector role
- Private industry accounts for about 40% of partners in defence manufacturing, according to Satheesh Reddy.
- RADPL expertise
- The company works in research and development, electronic system design and composites for aerospace, defence and homeland security.
- Engineering experience
- RADPL said its team has more than 200 man-years of experience across 10 defence programmes.
- Acquisitions
- RADPL has expanded through five acquisitions covering electronic warfare, missile RF systems, embedded systems, power electronics and composite structures.
- MALE-300 specifications
- The planned medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft is described as having a 300-kg payload bay, 30-hour endurance and a 30,000-foot operating altitude.
- Joint-venture partner
- RADPL announced the MALE-300 joint venture with Peridot Advanced Materials.