Bengaluru: India’s indigenous military industrial base is steadily emerging as a global benchmark, combining decades of public-sector expertise with private-sector agility and cutting-edge innovation. For countries like Nigeria, still in the early stages of local defence production, India’s trajectory offers a powerful case study in strategic planning, technological self-reliance, and industrial ecosystem development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, for decades, India relied heavily on imported military hardware. Today, however, deliberate government policy, sustained research and development, and strong public-private collaboration are transforming the country into a producer and exporter of advanced defence technology. The result is a sophisticated ecosystem that is reducing import dependence, enhancing operational capability, and positioning India as a credible player in the global defence market.
These developments were on full display to a delegation of foreign defence journalists currently in India on a Familiarisation Capsule organised by the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs. Bengaluru, India’s technology hub, provided the perfect vantage point to observe how indigenous military industrial complexes are evolving in scale, sophistication, and global relevance.
At Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), one of India’s flagship defence electronics companies, the delegation was briefed on a journey of sustained growth, diversification, and technological mastery. Executive Director, retired Navy Commander K. Kumar, described BEL as both a strategic partner of the Indian Armed Forces and a national asset. He attributed the company’s growth to a business model rooted in structured technology transfer partnerships with foreign firms, dependable production collaborators, and strong in-house research and development.
Industry analysts note that BEL’s most valuable asset may be intangible: the institutional trust it has earned from the government, armed forces, and international customers. This credibility has enabled the company to scale production, diversify product lines, and compete globally. Key defence platforms and systems produced by BEL include: Akash Weapon System radar and control systems; advanced naval combat management systems; electronic warfare suites for land, air, and sea platforms; as well as coastal surveillance radar systems.
The delegation then visited NewSpace Research and Technologies, an emerging private-sector defence technology firm representing India’s new-age military innovation ecosystem. At the firm, retired Navy Commander Ashwin Shastry, AVP (Alliances and Partnerships), explained that NewSpace focuses on disruptive technologies, rapid prototyping, and scalable unmanned systems tailored to modern warfare requirements. Notable platforms and capabilities include high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial systems and tactical loitering munitions among others.
At SSS Defence, India’s private-sector defence story extends beyond electronics and unmanned systems. SSS Defence is the country’s first private original equipment manufacturer of small arms, showcasing homegrown capability in infantry weapons. CEO Vivek Krishnan highlighted that India historically lacked a strong private gun-making culture, but policy reforms since 2016 have opened the door for private-sector participation.
The delegation also visited Astrome Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a start-up engineering next-generation wireless connectivity for both terrestrial and satellite systems. Founded in 2015 and incubated at the Indian Institute of Science, Astro focuses on millimetre-wave E-band communications and electronically steerable phased-array antennas. The company’s President, Venkatech Kumaran, emphasised India-first technology development, claiming patents in phased-array antennas and communication constellation optimisation.
Nigeria has made notable strides through DICON and local innovation by armed forces and private firms, yet its defence industrial base is at an early stage of maturity. However, the industry faces challenges such as limited scale of local production, dependence on foreign technology, and fragmented research and development pipelines. India’s experience offers actionable lessons in policy consistency, structured technology transfer, and civil-military-academic integration for continuous innovation.