IAF Deputy Chief Advocates Full Indigenous Defence Production to Boost National Security

Emphasizing the need for complete self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Deputy Chief of the Indian Air Force, has called for 100% indigenisation of India’s defence production. Speaking at the Aero Tech India 2025 conference, he stressed that even partial reliance on foreign components could compromise national security during critical times.

Highlighting the strategic importance of domestic manufacturing, Air Marshal Bharti said, “Partial indigenisation is not enough. If key components are imported, our readiness could be affected during conflict. We must accelerate innovation within India.”

The Deputy Chief identified several technology areas as crucial for India’s defence future, including artificial intelligence-enabled systems, advanced UAVs, quantum-secure communications, directed energy weapons, scramjet engines, and integrated radar-sensor technologies.

Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani, Director General of the Centre for Air Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS), shared that India has already replaced more than 14,000 imported items with domestic alternatives, redirecting contracts worth ₹2.5 lakh crore to local manufacturers. A new positive indigenisation list is expected by the end of 2025, aiming to further strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence production.

Industry experts at the event highlighted the need for close collaboration between defence manufacturers, research institutions, and the armed forces to foster innovation and accelerate the development of cutting-edge defence technologies.

The message from Aero Tech India 2025 is clear: India’s defence strategy is shifting decisively toward self-reliance, ensuring the nation can design, produce, and deploy its own advanced military capabilities.