India’s Defence Exports Hit Record ₹38,424 Crore in FY26, Driven by Missiles, Artillery and Global Demand
Summary
India’s defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY26, up 62.66% from ₹23,622 crore the previous year. The surge reflects growing global demand and rising confidence in Indian-made systems across missiles, artillery, naval and aviation platforms.
Public sector undertakings (DPSUs) remained the largest exporters at ₹21,071 crore (a 151% year-on-year rise), while the private sector contributed ₹17,353 crore — roughly 45% of the total, with steady growth. The export mix moved beyond basic supplies to high-value systems, including BrahMos and Akash missiles, Pinaka rocket launchers, ATAGS howitzers, Swathi radars, Dornier 228 aircraft, specialised vessels, lightweight torpedoes, drones, armoured vehicles, small arms, ammunition and personal protection equipment.
Indian defence goods reached more than 80 countries, and the number of registered defence exporters climbed 13.3% to 145. Major buyers include the United States (notably for subsystems), France, Armenia and a range of partners across Asia, Africa and Europe. Over five years, exports have almost tripled, signalling deeper integration into global defence supply chains.
Key Points
- FY26 defence exports: ₹38,424 crore — a 62.66% increase over FY25 (₹23,622 crore).
- DPSUs exported ₹21,071 crore (up 151% YoY); private sector exports were ₹17,353 crore (≈45% share, up 14%).
- Export mix broadened to include high-value platforms: BrahMos, Akash, Pinaka, ATAGS, Swathi radar, Dornier 228, vessels and torpedoes.
- Also exported: munitions, small arms, UAVs, armoured vehicles, electronic warfare kit and personal protection (body armour, bulletproof jackets).
- Indian defence products reached 80+ countries; registered exporters rose to 145 (up 13.3%).
- Key markets: United States (sub-systems), France, Armenia, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Israel, Germany, Belgium and several African nations.
- Five-year trend: exports have nearly tripled, indicating growing global trust and supply-chain integration for Indian defence makers.
Author style
Punchy — this isn’t just another export stat. It’s a headline figure that shows India moving up the value chain in defence manufacturing. If you care about defence industry trends, trade flows or strategic industrial policy, the details matter — who’s selling what to whom, and which firms are winning.
Why should I read this?
Quick version: India’s gone from selling spares to shipping serious kit. If you’re tracking defence supply chains, export markets or Make-in-India wins, this piece saves you time — it pulls the big numbers and the notable kit into one neat snapshot. Plus, it flags which countries are buying and where Indian industry is gaining credibility. Worth a skim if you work in logistics, defence trade or policymaking — and a proper read if you’re making decisions off this data.