India's Defence Ministry Approves Major Procurement Amid Ongoing Foreign Dependence

India’s defence sector is experiencing record production growth, with domestic output reaching Rs 1.27 lakh crore ($15.4 bn) in FY‑24 and exports climbing to $2.77 bn. Nonetheless, the country remains the world’s second‑largest importer of arms, relying heavily on foreign technology for high‑value systems such as Rafale fighters, MQ‑9 drones, P‑8I aircraft, S‑400 air‑defence kits and advanced missile payloads.

At the upcoming Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, the ministry is set to clear several major purchases: HAMMER air‑to‑ground precision‑guided munitions for Rafale and LCA Tejas fighters, Russian‑origin Verba very short‑range air‑defence missiles, and a domestically developed man‑portable anti‑tank guided missile from DRDO‑Bharat Dynamics. The approvals will mark the first appearance of the new chiefs of staff and aim to bolster capabilities while continuing to depend on overseas suppliers for critical propulsion and electronics components.

Analysts note that despite a push for indigenisation, India’s reliance on imported titanium alloys, carbon‑fibre composites, specialty steels and engine technology is likely to persist through at least 2034, limiting the speed of future indigenous programmes such as the Light Combat Aircraft Mk‑1A.