Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has set a target of Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, after exports hit a record Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26.

Singh said exports have grown from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to the record level last year. The earlier Rs 30,000-crore target was crossed, and the new goal nearly doubles the push. Singh was speaking at an event on defence readiness. Defence production has risen to about Rs 1.80 lakh crore, he said.

Indian defence products now reach more than 100 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, he said. When a country buys Indian defence products, it trusts India’s technology and quality, he added.

The minister also highlighted indigenisation lists covering 509 items from the armed forces and thousands of components being made in India.

What happens next: hitting the 2029 target will depend on converting export interest into deliveries across missiles, radars and platforms.