India’s Defence Trajectory: Procurement, Indigenous Capability, and Strategic Balance

India’s defence sector is undergoing a decisive transformation shaped by a dual imperative: strengthening self-reliance while simultaneously enhancing operational readiness through select foreign procurements. This evolving approach is rooted in the recognition that long-term preparedness requires a resilient domestic defence–industrial base, but short-term deterrence demands timely acquisition of critical systems from trusted international partners. The shift is neither abrupt nor improvised; it reflects a carefully calibrated strategy designed to meet increasingly complex security challenges in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.

A major development illustrating this strategic direction is the collaboration between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Group to manufacture HAMMER air-to-ground precision munitions in India. The HAMMER system has become a crucial asset for the Indian Air Force since its integration with platforms like the Rafale. Bringing its production onto Indian soil marks an important milestone in India’s push for indigenous capacity-building. It signals confidence from global defence manufacturers in India’s ability to produce high-end technologies at scale and also embeds critical know-how within Indian industry. By moving from procurement to co-production, India steadily gains control over upgrades, supply chains, and long-term sustainment. In the process, the country reinforces its broader strategic goal of reducing external dependence for mission-critical defense components.

This indigenization drive is complemented by targeted foreign procurements that address urgent and specific capability gaps. The clearance by the United States for the sale of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and Excalibur precision artillery shells to India exemplifies this pragmatic approach. While India continues to develop domestic alternatives in both the anti-tank and artillery domains, immediate operational requirements, particularly given the evolving security environment along its borders, necessitate access to proven, technologically advanced systems. The acquisition of Javelins enhances infantry anti-armor capability, while the Excalibur round significantly improves long-range precision strike capacity. These procurements demonstrate that India is committed to enhancing its frontline readiness without allowing long-term self-reliance goals to compromise currently required combat effectiveness.

Efforts to reduce import dependence have intensified as India acknowledges the vulnerabilities associated with an externally reliant procurement model. A heavy reliance on foreign suppliers exposes the military to supply-chain disruptions, fluctuating costs, and diplomatic conditionalities at critical junctures. Strengthening the domestic defence ecosystem thus becomes a strategic necessity. Policymakers have increasingly emphasized fostering private-sector participation, building long-term partnerships with global manufacturers, and promoting co-development models that enable India to absorb cutting-edge technologies rather than merely import final products. The growing number of joint ventures and technology transfer agreements demonstrates the evolution of India’s defense-industrial ambitions from basic licenced production to more sophisticated forms of collaboration.

The country’s parallel efforts to modernize operational capabilities further illuminate this transition. India’s armed forces continue to confront capability gaps driven by legacy platforms, rapid technological shifts, and rising regional military modernization. Procurement decisions are now increasingly aligned with long-term force development plans rather than short-term urgency alone. Whether in air defence, artillery, armour, or electronic warfare, the focus has shifted towards acquiring systems that enhance interoperability, survivability, and battlefield integration. Modernisation is no longer viewed as a periodic upgrade but as an ongoing process responsive to shifting threats, evolving doctrines, and the demands of multi-domain warfare.

Strategic signaling plays an equally significant role in India’s defense approach. By cultivating partnerships with France, the United States, Israel, and other technologically advanced defence producers, India conveys its intent to maintain a diverse and reliable portfolio of suppliers. At the same time, the steady expansion of indigenous capabilities signals India’s aspiration for greater strategic autonomy. The balance between the two allows India to respond to crises without overdependence on any single partner, while also projecting confidence to adversaries and reassurance to allies. This dual-track strategy strengthens India’s deterrence posture and enhances its flexibility amid global geopolitical uncertainties.

India’s long-standing defence cooperation with Israel is another key pillar in this evolving landscape. The planned expansion of the MR-SAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile) air defence programme exemplifies the success of India–Israel technological collaboration. Unlike conventional foreign procurements, the MR-SAM project is co-developed, combining Israeli technology with Indian production capabilities. This model has proven effective not only in delivering high-quality systems suited to India’s operational environment but also in building indigenous industrial capacity in areas such as missile integration, radar systems, and command-and-control technologies. The continuation and deepening of the MR-SAM partnership demonstrates how collaborative development can serve as a bridge between immediate defence requirements and long-term technological self-sufficiency.

Underlying these partnerships and procurements is the recognition that India’s security environment is becoming increasingly complex. Regional instability, heightened border tensions, and the proliferation of cost-effective disruptive technologies have all reshaped the nature of military preparedness. The emergence of drones, loitering munitions, precision-guided weaponry, and advanced surveillance systems has forced militaries worldwide to rethink doctrines and procurement priorities. India’s evolving strategy reflects this shift: speed, adaptability, and resilient supply chains are now as important as raw firepower. Decisions that once would have been seen purely through the lens of hardware acquisition are now tied to sustainability, rapid deployability, and technological relevance.

India’s defence evolution thus rests on a layered approach that blends foreign cooperation, indigenous capability development, and operational modernisation into a coherent strategic framework. The BEL–Safran venture demonstrates how foreign expertise can be synergised with Indian manufacturing. The procurement of advanced munitions such as Javelins and Excalibur rounds highlights India’s willingness to make rapid, targeted acquisitions in response to immediate operational imperatives. The India–Israel MR-SAM collaboration exemplifies how shared research and development can accelerate technological absorption and expand domestic capability.

As India continues to move forward, its success will depend on sustaining this delicate balance. The domestic defence–industrial base will require continued investment, regulatory stability, and an innovation-driven environment. Foreign collaborations will need to be deepened through mechanisms that extend beyond procurement to include genuine co-development and co-design. The armed forces must remain central to this process, shaping procurement decisions through clearly articulated operational requirements and long-term capability roadmaps. With these elements working in tandem, India is positioned to evolve from one of the world’s largest defence importers into a significant hub of defence production, innovation, and export.

The trajectory of India’s defence strategy today reflects a country that is increasingly confident in its capabilities, realistic about its challenges, and deliberate in its choices. By blending domestic development with selective foreign procurement, and by prioritising both immediate operational needs and long-term resilience, India is steadily building a defence ecosystem capable of meeting the demands of the next decade and beyond.

References:

Baiju, S. (2025, November 25). India, France to jointly manufacture HAMMER air-to-ground weapons. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-france-to-jointly-manufacture-hammer-air-to-ground-weapons-10384256/ The Indian Express+1

Philip, S. A. (2025, November 24). India and France to jointly manufacture HAMMER air-to-surface missile. ThePrint. https://theprint.in/defence/india-and-france-to-jointly-manufacture-hammer-air-to-surface-missile/2791235/ ThePrint

Rajat Pandit. (2025, November 21). US approves sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles & Excalibur munitions to India. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/us-approves-sale-of-javelin-anti-tank-missiles-excalibur-munitions-to-india/articleshow/125467406.cms The Times of India

SPRF. (2025). India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem: Between ambition and execution. SPRF. https://sprf.in/indias-defence-manufacturing-ecosystem-between-ambition-and-execution/ SPRF

“Keshav Padmanabhan.” (2025, November 4). India & Israel ink agreement to share, co-develop & co-produce advanced defence tech. ThePrint. https://theprint.in/defence/india-israel-ink-agreement-to-share-co-develop-co-produce-advanced-defence-tech/2777020/ ThePrint+1