Indian defence exports surge 62.66% to record Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025-26

India’s defence exports rose to a record ₹38,424 crore ($4.6 billion approx.) in the financial year 2025–26, marking an increase of ₹14,802 crore, or 62.66%, from ₹23,622 crore in the previous fiscal, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and private firms contributed 54.84% and 45.16% respectively to the total exports, in line with the government’s push to position India among the world’s top defence exporters.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the performance of the Department of Defence Production, exporters and other stakeholders, saying India is moving steadily towards becoming a global manufacturing hub for defence equipment. In a post on X, he said the country is “scripting an impressive defence exports success story” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Exports by DPSUs surged 151% from a year earlier, while private sector exports rose 14%. In value terms, private firms exported defence goods worth ₹17,353 crore, compared with ₹15,233 crore a year ago, while DPSUs contributed ₹21,071 crore, up from ₹8,389 crore in the previous fiscal.

The latest figure represents an almost threefold increase in defence exports over the past five years.

The ministry said the growth reflects rising global acceptance of Indian-made defence products and the sector’s deeper integration into international supply chains. India exported defence equipment to more than 80 countries in FY26, while the number of exporters increased to 145 from 128 in the previous year.

It added that policy measures aimed at improving ease of doing business and facilitating exporters, including a revamped online portal and simplified standard operating procedures for authorisations, have supported the sector’s growth.