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Defence framework of India

In 2023, India retained its position as the fourth-largest defense spender globally, second only to the United States in military expenditure. A strategic pivot is evident in the substantial growth of capital outlay, outpacing other defense segments. The post-pandemic era has been a transformative phase for India’s defense sector, with foreign military import dependency stabilizing since FY22 and domestic defense exports witnessing remarkable growth. This convergence of reduced import reliance and increased export capabilities signifies a pivotal achievement in India’s pursuit of defense self-reliance and modernization.

Key Advances in India’s Defense Modernization

Transitioning to Indigenous Defense Manufacturing:

• India is actively building a self-reliant defense ecosystem by prioritizing domestic production and minimizing imports.
• Policies like the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020 emphasize local procurement.
• Domestic defense production reached a record ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2023-24, marking a 16.7% growth over the previous year.
• In the 2024-25 budget, 75% of the ₹1,40,691 crore capital procurement was allocated to indigenous products, including advanced weapon systems.

Rising Defense Exports:

• India is gaining recognition as a global defense exporter, offering cost-efficient, high-quality weaponry.
• Exports of products like BrahMos missiles and Pinaka rocket systems surged to ₹21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, a 31-fold increase over the past decade.
• The government aims to boost exports further to ₹35,000 crore by 2025, leveraging programs like the iDEX scheme to foster globally competitive technologies.

Strengthening Strategic Defense Partnerships:

• Collaborations with global defense leaders are helping India bridge technological gaps and co-develop advanced platforms.
• Examples include Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders’ partnership with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems for Project P-75(I) submarines and the US-India INDUS-X initiative for AI and hypersonic technologies.
• In 2023, India and France agreed to co-produce aero engines, reflecting a commitment to high-tech indigenization.

Breakthroughs in Missile Technology and Tactical Systems:

• India’s missile programs showcase progress in strategic autonomy and enhanced deterrence.
• The ‘Pralay’ tactical missile offers battlefield flexibility, while the successful 2024 Agni Prime missile tests demonstrate advancements in long-range strike precision.

Development of Defense Industrial Corridors:

• Defense Industrial Corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh highlight India’s focus on regional growth and manufacturing.
• These corridors aim to attract ₹20,000 crore in investments, with Tamil Nadu securing ₹11,794 crore as of 2024.
• Major players like L&T have established manufacturing units, fostering regional innovation.

Focus on Space and Cybersecurity Defense:

• India is integrating space and cybersecurity into its defense strategy to address emerging threats.
• The Defense Space Agency and planned surveillance satellites demonstrate evolving priorities.
• The 2025 Gaganyaan mission and CERT-In’s cybersecurity efforts reflect readiness in non-traditional domains.

Implementation of Positive Indigenization Lists:

• The government has introduced five Positive Indigenization Lists, banning imports of listed items after specific deadlines.
• This has driven innovation, with systems like the K9 Vajra artillery and LCA Tejas parts now indigenized.
• These initiatives significantly reduce dependency on foreign suppliers by replacing imports with high-quality domestic alternatives.

Enhancing Anti-Piracy and Maritime Capabilities:

• India’s naval power is expanding to counter piracy and secure maritime interests, especially in the Indo-Pacific.
• The commissioning of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, in 2023 signifies its growing maritime strength.
• Regular deployments of patrol vessels, such as the Sumedha class, to regions like the Gulf of Aden underscore India’s commitment to regional security.

Key Challenges in India’s Space Sector

Limited Budget Allocation and Financial Constraints:

• India’s space ambitions are constrained by a modest budget, affecting large-scale projects and technological innovation.
• Despite high returns on investment, India’s space budget remains significantly lower than global counterparts, limiting exploration, infrastructure development, and R&D.
• India spends only 0.04% of its GDP on space, compared to the United States’ 0.28%.
• ISRO’s 2024-25 budget stands at ₹13,042.75 crore (approximately $1.95 billion), while NASA operates with a much larger $25 billion budget.

Dependence on Foreign Technology:

• India relies heavily on foreign suppliers for critical components such as advanced sensors, propulsion systems, and semiconductors.
• Indigenous technology development lags global standards, hindering self-reliance in deep-space exploration and satellite manufacturing.
• For instance, India’s solar sector imports reached $7 billion in FY 2024, and the development of the cryogenic CE-20 engine for GSLV Mk III faced significant delays.

Regulatory and Policy Deficiencies:

• The absence of a robust legal framework for space activities hampers private sector participation and international partnerships.
• The Indian Space Policy 2023, while progressive, fails to address critical issues such as liability, intellectual property rights, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Although the Outer Space Treaty (1967) mandates liability for damages caused by space objects, India lacks a dedicated Space Act to codify these provisions.
• Unclear licensing processes have delayed private satellite launches, impacting startups like Pixxel and Agnikul Cosmos.

Space Debris and Sustainability Challenges:

• Increasing satellite launches and defunct spacecraft contribute to the growing issue of space debris, threatening operational assets.
• By 2022, India had 103 active or defunct spacecraft and 114 objects classified as ‘space debris’ in orbit.
• Limited debris mitigation strategies and the absence of debris removal mechanisms exacerbate the problem.

Underdeveloped Defense and Security Capabilities:

• India’s space defense capabilities remain underdeveloped compared to global powers, despite the rising threat of space militarization.
• The lack of robust anti-satellite (ASAT) systems, space-based early warning systems, and a cohesive military-space policy increases vulnerabilities.
• While India conducted its first ASAT test in 2019, countries like the U.S. and China maintain advanced dual-use satellites capable of offensive operations.

Brain Drain and Talent Deficit:

• The migration of skilled professionals to global space organizations weakens India’s domestic innovation capacity.
• With better funding, infrastructure, and career prospects abroad, India faces a talent gap in advanced space research.
• Approximately 70% of Indian students studying abroad choose STEM fields, reducing the retention rate for top scientists in India. Indian-origin scientists contribute significantly to major projects at NASA and SpaceX, such as Mars Perseverance and Starship.

Limited Global Market Share:

• Despite cost-effective capabilities, India’s contribution to the global space economy remains small, at just 2-3%.
• Missions like PSLV-C56 attract commercial payloads but fall short of securing international contracts compared to players like SpaceX.

Lagging Human Spaceflight Capabilities:

• India trails global leaders in human space exploration, lacking the operational capacity for sustained manned missions.
• The Gaganyaan mission, though promising, faces delays and relies on foreign life-support systems, highlighting technological gaps.
• India’s first manned mission is planned for 2025, nearly 20 years behind China and 55 years after the U.S. Apollo mission.

Geopolitical and Strategic Challenges:

• Global competition for space dominance creates geopolitical challenges, particularly with China’s rapid advancements.
• India’s focus on civilian applications leaves it behind in space diplomacy and dual-use technologies compared to aggressive competitors.
• China’s Tiangong Space Station became operational in 2022, while India’s regional navigation system, NavIC, struggles to gain international adoption compared to China’s BeiDou.

Measures India Can Adopt to Enhance Defense Modernization

Streamlining Procurement Processes for Timely Acquisitions

• Simplify and revise the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020 to reduce delays in defense procurement.
• Introduce a single-window clearance system to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.
• Leverage AI-driven procurement systems to optimize timelines and enhance transparency.

Increasing Budget Allocation for Capital Expenditure

• Allocate a higher percentage of the defense budget to modernization efforts to bridge critical capability gaps.
• Enhanced funding can accelerate the induction of advanced platforms like the LCA Tejas Mark II and S-400 missile systems, ensuring technological parity with adversaries.

Strengthening Indigenous Defense Manufacturing through Scheme Integration

• Combine the Make in India initiative with the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of critical technologies such as engines, avionics, and sensors.
• This integration can encourage private players and startups to co-develop cutting-edge technologies, reducing reliance on imports.

Expanding Global Partnerships for Technology Transfer

• Deepen collaborations with technologically advanced nations for co-developing defense platforms.
• Initiatives like the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) can help acquire critical technologies such as AI and hypersonics.
• Local production of advanced systems through these partnerships can address existing technology gaps.

Establishing Robust Cyber and Space Defense Capabilities

• Prioritize the development of dedicated cyber defense and space command units to address emerging threats.
• Strengthen the CERT-In framework and enhance collaborations with global leaders like the US in space warfare.

Implementing Joint Theater Commands for Enhanced Interoperability

• Expedite the establishment of joint theater commands to integrate the Army, Navy, and Air Force for seamless operations.
• These commands can enhance resource utilization and enable coordinated responses to strategic challenges like the China-Pakistan nexus.

Leveraging Startups and MSMEs through the iDEX Scheme

• Expand the scope of the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative to bring more innovative startups into the defense ecosystem.
• Link iDEX with Defence Industrial Corridors to provide MSMEs with infrastructure and support for scaling up the production of technologies like UAVs and precision-guided munitions.

Modernizing the Navy to Address Indo-Pacific Challenges

• Prioritize naval fleet modernization to counter China’s increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Induct advanced platforms like INS Vikrant and future Project 75(I) submarines to maintain maritime dominance.
• Enhanced naval capabilities can also support India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision by securing critical sea lanes.

Enhancing Export Capabilities through Focused Policies

• Focus on globally competitive platforms like the BrahMos missile and Akash air defense systems to boost defense exports.
• Streamline the export approval process and engage global buyers through defense expos.
• Achieving the ₹35,000 crore export target by 2025 will enhance India’s global defense reputation.

Developing Skill Ecosystems for Defense Manufacturing

• Invest in creating a skilled workforce specializing in robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing for the defense sector.
• Link the Skill India Mission with defense manufacturing through dedicated training programs.
• Upskilling initiatives in Defence Industrial Corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh can provide a steady supply of skilled workers.

Focusing on R&D to Foster Indigenous Innovation

• Increase R&D expenditure in defense to at least 5% of the defense budget to drive innovation and reduce import dependency.
• Encourage partnerships between DRDO and private firms for co-developing critical technologies like jet engines and hypersonic missiles.

Promoting Green Technology in Defense

• Integrate green technologies into defense operations to reduce environmental impact and enhance efficiency.
• Develop electric-powered military vehicles and energy-efficient bases to align with global sustainability goals.
• Collaborate with domestic firms through the SRIJAN portal to ensure eco-friendly innovations are indigenously developed and deployed.

India’s defense modernization exemplifies a strategic blend of bolstering self-reliance and fostering global collaborations. Achievements such as enhanced indigenous production, a surge in defense exports, and breakthroughs in missile technology underscore substantial progress. Moving forward, sustained emphasis on innovation, seamless interoperability, and adaptability will be pivotal in achieving robust and comprehensive national security.

The End of the Blog: Defence framework of India