• Source:JND
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India's defence exports are growing rapidly and reached an all-time high in 2025-26, reflecting the country's growing presence in the global arms market. According to the official data released by the Ministry of Defence, India's defence exports rose to Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26.

This is the highest-ever export of Indian defence gear and equipment, a nearly 25 times increase from Rs 1,522 crore in 2016-17. The data shows not just a sharp rise in defence exports but rising trust and acceptability for the Indian defence products across the world, especially in rapidly growing third-world countries.

The jump to over Rs 38,000 crore in 2025-26 is itself a sharp increase of 62.66 per cent from last year, i.e., 2024-25, when the defence exports were to the tune of Rs 23,622 crore.

This export trend, despite some minor fluctuations, appears to be steadily moving upward.

Defence exports crossed Rs 10,000 crore for the first time in 2018-19.
It declined slightly during the pandemic years and then increased sharply from 2021-22.
Between 2023-24 and 2025-26, exports are projected to increase from Rs 21,083 crore to Rs 38,424 crore, reflecting the growing demand for defence equipment and systems made in India.

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Who buys defence weapons from India?

India's defence exports were largely limited to a few key buyers during 2016-2025. Myanmar emerged as India's largest buyer, accounting for 28 per cent of India's total defence exports.

After Myanmar, India's second-largest buyer was the Philippines, accounting for 19 per cent of India's defence exports. Armenia, meanwhile, accounts for 15 per cent of India's defence exports. Together, these three countries account for over 60 per cent of India's exports.

Among other importers of Indian defence goods are Sri Lanka, 13 per cent, Mauritius, 8.3 per cent, Seychelles, 6 per cent, and Vietnam, 5.5 per cent.

Other countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Morocco and the Maldives collectively made up around 5 per cent of exports.

What is India selling?

India is selling complete weapon systems, sub-systems, support equipment and components. Some of the key items include high-value missile systems like BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Akash air-defence missiles.

Among artillery and rocket launchers, India exports Pinaka rockets and ATAGS howitzers. India also exported radars like Swathi and sophisticated electronic warfare (EW) systems, along with armoured vehicles and mine-protected vehicles.

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Talking about aircraft, drones and torpedoes, news portal WION reported that India exported Dornier-228 aircraft, drones, ocean-going platforms, lightweight torpedoes, specialised boats, and munitions.

In defence components and gears, India exported fuses, fuselages and protective gear like body armour and bulletproof jackets. The public sector undertakings focused more on munitions, fuses and torpedoes, while private manufacturers and exporters supplied armoured vehicles, small arms, bulletproof jackets and UAVs.


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