Amit's Blog

The India-France Defense Partnership: Six Decades of Strategic Collaboration and Technological Excellence The India-France defense partnership, spanning over 60 years, has evolved into a strategic alliance, with France as India’s second-largest arms supplier, delivering over $30 billion in systems since the 1950s. From Ouragan jets and AMX-13 tanks in the early years to modern Rafale fighters and Scorpene submarines, France has provided aircraft, naval platforms, missiles, and more. Joint ventures like the Scorpene project and co-development of jet engines strengthen India’s “Make in India” initiative. Despite high costs and competition from Russia and Israel, the partnership thrives, with $13 billion in recent contracts (2015–2025). Bilateral trade reached $15.7 billion in 2023–24. Over the next decade, expect deeper co-production in stealth tech, AI, and space, with trade projected to hit $25 billion by 2035, cementing a bond rooted in shared democratic values and strategic convergen...

Reliance Defence Manufacturing: Emerging Private Sector Powerhouse Reliance Defence Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Limited (RInfra), is a leading private player in India’s defense sector, aligning with the “Make in India” and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Operating in aerospace, naval systems, ammunition, and electronic warfare, it leverages India’s largest integrated shipyard in Gujarat and the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC) in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. With exports exceeding ₹1,000 crore and 25 industrial licenses, Reliance collaborates with global giants like Dassault Aviation, Rheinmetall AG, and Thales for technology transfer and production. The Rafale offset deal alone promises ₹20,000 crore in business. Despite financial challenges, including RInfra’s high debt and negative return on equity (-29.27% in FY24), Reliance is poised for growth, driven by India’s $130 billion defense modernization and export targets of ₹50,000 crore by FY29. Strategic joint v...

Bharat Electronics Limited: Pioneering India’s Defence Electronics and Strategic Systems Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), India's premier defence electronics PSU, established in 1954, is pivotal to national security through its advanced radar, communication, electronic warfare, and missile systems. BEL's diverse portfolio, including the Ashwini radar, Akashteer C4I system, and indigenous counter-drone technology, serves all branches of the Indian armed forces and expands into non-defence sectors and exports. A robust order book of ₹76,000 crore and consistent revenue growth, driven by "Make in India" initiatives and strategic offset partnerships, underscore its financial stability. While its UAV focus centers on critical subsystems and counter-drone solutions, BEL's future projections anticipate a ₹40,000 crore revenue by 2030, fueled by investments in AI and cybersecurity. Navigating competition and leveraging its R&D capabilities will be crucial for BEL t...