All Things Policy Exploring India's Defence Ecosystem
Jul 7, 2025
Yusuf Unjhawala, a researcher at the Takshashila Institution, and Aniket Vijayvargiya, an expert from the same organization, dive deep into India's defense ecosystem. They discuss the shift from Russian arms to Western sources and the push for self-sufficiency in military production. The episode highlights challenges in defense procurement reform, the importance of military modernization, and the potential of indigenous drone technology. Their insights reveal the dynamic nature of India's arms industry and its evolving strategies for national security.
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Shift From Russian Imports To Indigenous
- India has shifted from primarily importing Russian arms to western technology like Rafale and US aircraft.
- Indigenous defence systems matured, reducing import dependency significantly from 75% to about 30%.
Navy Ends Warship Imports
- Importing Russian warships has become unnecessary since India can build its own frigates.
- The Navy plans no future warship imports, reflecting a shift to domestic production.
Procurement Reform Needed For Private Sector
- India's defense acquisition procedure is being revised to streamline long timelines and enable fairer private sector participation.
- Current rules favor government enterprises allowing them to evade accountability, discouraging private investment.