Rajnath Singh hails India’s defence self-reliance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday lauded India’s growing self-reliance in defence, noting the country’s decreasing dependence on foreign nations for weapons and equipment. He said the situation has changed significantly, and today every component, weapon, and platform proudly bears the inscription “Made in India.”

He highlighted the Ministry of Defence’s agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 97 light combat aircraft, with more than 64% of the equipment to be produced domestically.

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“Whether it’s the Tejas fighter aircraft, the Akash missile, the Arjun tank, or the Prachanda helicopter, the strength of our armed forces is growing with technology developed by Indian hands,” he said, underlining India’s self-reliance movement.

“Our dependence on foreign countries is steadily decreasing. With this vision, India is building a strong and vibrant defence industry. We were once heavily reliant on defence imports for our security,” he added.

The ₹62,370-crore contract with HAL includes 68 single-seater Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets and 29 twin-seaters, along with associated equipment. Deliveries will begin in 2027-28 and be completed within six years.

The Tejas Mk-1A will feature over 64% indigenous content and 67 new items compared to the 2021 contract. It will include advanced systems such as the UTTAM AESA Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and indigenous control surface actuators, reinforcing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The programme is supported by a supply chain of around 105 Indian companies and is expected to generate nearly 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually during the production period, the Defence Ministry said.

Procured under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, the Tejas Mk-1A is the most advanced variant of the indigenously designed fighter jet and will serve as a key platform to meet the IAF’s operational needs.