Ahead of Aero India 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Ambassadors Round Table, emphasizing India's growing defense capabilities and the reforms aimed at enhancing its defense industry.

"The Indian government has recently introduced several reforms to build a strong defense industry ecosystem, focusing on domestic design, development, manufacturing, and exports. Recognizing its strategic importance, the government has made aerospace a key sector under Atmanirbhar Bharat. Today, India boasts one of the largest defense industrial ecosystems in Asia, and we are committed to further expanding our capabilities. The aerospace and defense sector in India presents an excellent opportunity for foreign companies looking to forge new ventures and partnerships," Rajnath Singh said.

He stressed that these reforms are pivotal in strengthening India's self-reliance and creating opportunities for foreign companies in the nation's defense sector. He highlighted how the push for indigenous manufacturing is paving the way for a more independent defense industry.

Roman Babushkin, Minister of Counsellor and Deputy Chief of the Mission at the Russian Embassy in India, also spoke at the event, emphasizing its importance in advancing India’s defense capabilities.

"We strongly believe this event will be a major milestone in India’s journey toward self-reliance in defense, with significant progress driven by initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. These efforts, along with successful partnerships with friendly nations, particularly Russia, are yielding tangible results. Russia remains India’s oldest and most reliable defense partner, contributing cutting-edge technologies and supporting joint production and development," Babushkin stated.

The discussions highlighted the increasing cooperation between India and Russia in defense production and technology sharing, with Babushkin underlining Russia’s key role in India’s defense ecosystem and the significance of bilateral collaboration in enhancing the military capabilities of both nations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI