India’s defence production has nearly quadrupled to around ₹1.8 lakh crore over the past decade, marking significant progress towards self-reliance in the defence sector, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
Singh made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for a ₹472-crore facility for the overhaul of T-series battle tanks at the 57-year-old Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) in Madhya Pradesh.
The Defence Minister said defence exports have also surged to nearly ₹39,000 crore, while the government has set a target of achieving ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by the 2028-29 financial year.
Singh said India was moving beyond domestic manufacturing and developing capabilities to maintain, overhaul and upgrade its defence equipment within the country. He described the new tank overhaul facility at VFJ as a major milestone in building a self-reliant defence industrial ecosystem.
The facility is expected to overhaul 80 T-72 and T-90 tanks annually. The Indian Army requires around 230 such tanks to be overhauled every year, while the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi currently handles about 150 tanks annually. The new facility at Jabalpur is expected to bridge the remaining gap.
Singh expressed confidence that the project would be completed on schedule and meet high-quality standards. He also said the facility would create employment opportunities for people in the region.
Established in 1969, VFJ initially manufactured Shaktiman 3-tonne vehicles in collaboration with Germany’s MAN, as well as Nissan 1T and Jonga vehicles in collaboration with Japan’s Nissan Motors. The factory is spread over 330 acres, while its adjoining estate covers another 600 acres, officials said.
