The recent escalation following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s swift and calibrated response through Operation Sindoor has demonstrated the nation’s evolving military doctrine. Over four days, India’s Army, Air Force, and Navy executed a coordinated display of precision strikes and air defence, signalling a transformative shift in India’s defence capabilities. From indigenously developed missiles to Make-in-India suicide drones, the operation showcased the maturity and readiness of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. More than a tactical success, it marked a strategic turning point: India is no longer viewed as a price-sensitive buyer, but as a rising defence power built on precision, reliability, and scalable innovation.
“India is committed to peace, but will not hesitate to act with precision and strength to protect its sovereignty,” said Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, DGMO, during the press briefing on 11th May 2025 after the ceasefire of Operation Sindoor—a defining moment for India’s defence narrative. From indigenous missiles to locally manufactured suicide drones, India’s defence industry has proven its capability, precision, and readiness, reshaping its global perception as a powerhouse in quality, reliability, and scale.
For decades, India has endured numerous terrorist attacks on its soil, often attributed to Pakistan-based groups. Notable incidents include the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, collectively resulting in hundreds of civilian and security personnel casualties. However, in a significant shift from previous responses, India launched Operation Sindoor in May 2025, marking its most extensive cross-border military action in nearly five decades. In a swift 25-minute operation, the Indian Armed Forces executed 24 precision missile strikes targeting nine terrorist launch pads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including high-profile figures linked to past attacks. India’s use of indigenous weaponry, such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and domestically manufactured drones, showcased the country’s advancements in defence technology and manufacturing capabilities. Pakistan’s subsequent attempts at retaliation, involving drone incursions and missile launches, were effectively neutralised by India’s integrated air defence systems, including the S-400 and indigenous Akash missiles. This demonstrated India’s enhanced defensive preparedness and strategic depth.
Operation Sindoor is one of the shortest yet most impactful military engagements in recent history, reinforcing India’s position as a formidable military power. It also reflects the success of the ‘Make in India‘ initiative, bolstering the nation’s defence manufacturing sector, building self-reliance, and reducing import dependency.
Shifting Perception: No Longer a Price-Compromised Market
For years, India’s manufacturing sector was often perceived as one where compromises on quality were made in favour of cost. This was particularly true in defence procurement, where global players saw India more as a buyer of affordable systems than a creator of cutting-edge solutions. However, that narrative is changing.
The growth of private sector participation, improved R&D investment, and increasing collaboration with global tech partners have led to a new image—India as a credible source of affordable yet high-precision defence solutions. This transformation is visible in critical systems such as missiles, UAVs, radar systems, and electronic warfare.
India’s SkyStriker Drones Showcased Precision & Self-Reliance
In what is being hailed as a game-changing moment, India deployed the SkyStriker suicide drones—a loitering munition developed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative—during Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
These drones, co-developed by Alpha Design Technologies (Bengaluru) in partnership with Israel’s Elbit Systems, are a landmark in indigenous drone warfare. Capable of flying silently, loitering for extended periods, and striking with surgical precision, the SkyStriker offers India both stealth and lethality in its UAV arsenal, paving the way for India to become a defence drone manufacturing hub, potentially for Israeli-origin technology built under Indian soil.
Reports from global outlets confirmed that, alongside SkyStriker, India used Israeli-made Harop drones, known for their ‘kamikaze’ style loitering capabilities, to hit sensitive Pakistani defence locations in cities including Lahore and Karachi. The coordinated use of such advanced drones has signalled that India has moved beyond just importing technology—it is now operationalizing and deploying with precision, even opening the doors for local assembly and export of loitering munition systems.
S-400 and Indian-Made Air Defence Systems Blunted Missile Barrage
In Pakistan’s attempted retaliation, Indian air defences held strong. While the Russian-made S-400 provided top-tier radar and interception capability, major credit also goes to India’s indigenous missile systems—especially the Akash SAM and the recently tested Pralay tactical missile—which showcased accurate target neutralization and layered defence strategy.
This successful deployment indicates India’s defence strategy now rests on a hybrid ecosystem, combining imported excellence with indigenous reliability, reducing long-term dependency and increasing readiness.
BrahMos: Combat-Proven and Export-Ready
Perhaps the most defining moment came when BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, a joint venture between India and Russia, were reportedly used in strikes targeting Pakistani airbases, including Nur Khan Airbase. It marked the first combat deployment of the missile and proved its effectiveness under real conflict conditions.
Already exported to countries like the Philippines, and under negotiation with others including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil, BrahMos is India’s flagship in the defence export push—showing how combat success can bolster global demand.
Aftershock Opportunity: India as a Defence Manufacturing Hub
India is increasingly being seen as a buyer and a manufacturer of value-based, high-performance defence products. Backed by government reforms like Defence Corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, increased FDI limits in defence manufacturing, DRDO-private industry collaborations, and export-friendly policies under IDEX and Atmanirbhar Bharat. India is now at the forefront of offering affordable yet combat-tested solutions to friendly nations, particularly those in Asia, Africa, and South America that seek defence parity without the cost burden of Western systems.
While geopolitical conflict is never ideal, it can reveal underlying power, readiness, and capability shifts. The current Indo-Pak tensions have shown the world that India can be a cost-driven player in defence. It is a strategic powerhouse—capable of designing, deploying, and exporting defence systems that balance precision, cost, and scale. With a growing public and private players ecosystem, India is redefining itself on the global defence manufacturing map.
