Mumbai: Bramha Research Foundation (BRF), with the support of the Indian Navy, hosted a high-level day-long conclave on ‘Atmanirbharta in Defence – Opportunities for MSMEs’ at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, bringing together some of the nation’s most distinguished military leaders, policymakers, defence strategists, global OEMs and industry stalwarts to deliberate on India’s rapidly evolving indigenous defence ecosystem.
Held on the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor, the conclave reflected on how indigenous systems such as BrahMos, Akashteer and the Indianised Su-30MKI significantly strengthened Bharat’s strategic confidence and operational preparedness. The discussions underscored that Atmanirbharta in Defence is no longer merely an economic objective, but a strategic national imperative.
Delivering the inaugural keynote address, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, described Operation Sindoor as a defining example of India’s growing indigenous military capability and strategic resolve under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He highlighted that India’s defence exports have now crossed ₹39,000 crore, while more than ₹5 lakh crore worth of defence projects approved recently carry a strong focus on Indian-made systems and indigenous manufacturing. Reflecting on future warfare, Air Marshal Dixit emphasised that strategic superiority will increasingly depend on resilient supply chains, rapid innovation, scalable manufacturing and strong MSME participation.
He stated that modern conflicts will be shaped not only by platforms such as fighter aircraft and warships, but also by AI, cyber warfare, autonomous systems, drones, advanced electronics and industrial resilience. Calling MSMEs the backbone of India’s future defence ecosystem, he urged them to evolve from vendors into long-term partners in national security.
Deependra Singh Kushwaha, Development Commissioner (Industries) Chairman MAITRI, Government of Maharashtra highlighted Maharashtra’s growing strength in defence and aerospace manufacturing. He shared that Maharashtra contributes nearly 30% of India’s weapons and ammunition output, hosts over 190 aerospace and defence startups, and is witnessing more than $10 billion in committed investments in the sector. He also elaborated on the proposed Raksha Corridors, infrastructure expansion and policy reforms aimed at making Maharashtra a leading defence manufacturing destination.
He also spoke about how future battlefields will be driven not just by conventional platforms, but by cyber, space, AI, communication systems, simulation technologies and resilient supply chains. He also underlined the vast opportunities emerging for MSMEs through indigenous manufacturing, upgrades, MRO, avionics, drones, radars and next generation defence technologies. Reflecting on Operation Sindoor, he emphasized that India’s growing indigenous defence ecosystem is now central to strategic autonomy and future preparedness.
A thought-provoking presentation by Air Marshal Tejinder Singh focused on the rapidly evolving nature of warfare and the urgent need for India to accelerate indigenous capability development across aerospace and defence sectors. He highlighted how future battlefields will increasingly be driven by cyber capabilities, space technologies, AI-enabled systems, resilient communication networks, simulation technologies and advanced manufacturing. He also underlined the enormous opportunities emerging for MSMEs in drones, avionics, radars, MRO, electronic warfare and next-generation defence systems.
A panel discussion on Atmanirbharta in Defence took place where Arun Ramchandani, Sr. VP & Head (PES) IC, L&T highlighted how strategic autonomy in defence can only be achieved through strong indigenous R&D, innovation and scalable manufacturing ecosystems. He emphasized the need to integrate startups, MSMEs and large industries into a collaborative defence ecosystem capable of building globally competitive technologies and platforms.
Biju George, Director, Shipbuilding, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited MDL underlined the massive opportunities emerging for MSMEs in warship and submarine manufacturing, with over 200 MSMEs already contributing to key naval projects. He stressed the importance of long-term procurement visibility, faster payments, quality upgradation and resilient supply chains to strengthen India’s indigenous maritime defence ecosystem.
Jitendra Gavankar, CEO, Safran India spoke about the importance of balancing indigenisation with international collaboration to build a sustainable and globally competitive aerospace ecosystem. He highlighted Safran’s expanding India footprint, growing sourcing ecosystem, skilling initiatives and commitment towards developing high-quality Indian suppliers for global aerospace and defence supply chains.
Khalil Rahman, CEO, TKMS India emphasized that MSMEs will play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s submarine and maritime defence ecosystem through agility, innovation and rapid problem-solving capabilities. Drawing from global examples, he noted that self-reliance evolves progressively through technology partnerships, lifecycle support and deep integration of local industries into global supply chains.
Vice Admiral Atul Anand, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs highlighted the government’s strong push towards domestic procurement, defence innovation and indigenous manufacturing where he underscored how startups and MSMEs are becoming central pillars of India’s defence transformation. From iDEX and TDF funding mechanisms to futuristic technologies like AI, autonomous systems and quantum capabilities, the presentation offered valuable insights into the future of India’s defence ecosystem.
Addressing the conclave, BRF Director Paresh Page stated that in today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, Atmanirbharta is no longer merely an economic objective, but a strategic national imperative. He noted that from AI and cyber security to drones, defence manufacturing and resilient supply chains, the future of warfare and national preparedness will increasingly be shaped by technology, innovation and indigenous capability.
He further highlighted that the extraordinary 34,000% growth in India’s defence exports over the past decade reflects Bharat’s emergence as a rising global defence manufacturing power under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji.
*He added that the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and India’s rapidly expanding defence ecosystem together represent nearly a ₹10 lakh crore business opportunity for MSMEs across manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, drones, shipbuilding, cyber technologies, MRO, AI and next-generation defence systems.*
Reaffirming BRF’s commitment towards nation-building, he said the Foundation will continue fostering meaningful dialogue and encouraging greater participation of MSMEs, startups and innovators in building a stronger, self-reliant and globally competitive Bharat