India’s defence export story has long been dominated by the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a symbol of technological achievement and strategic clout, NDTV reported.

Yet the next chapter may be defined not by one marquee system but by a diverse portfolio of drones, loitering munitions, precision weapons, electronics and autonomous systems that reflect the changing nature of modern warfare.

India’s defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY26, a sharp rise of 62.66 per cent from ₹23,622 crore the previous year. The country now exports to more than 80 nations, with the number of exporters increasing from 128 to 145. These figures are impressive, but the real story lies in what India is selling.

The wars of recent years have shifted demand away from traditional platforms like fighter jets and tanks towards drones, electronic warfare, precision-guided systems and air-defence technologies. Militaries are seeking weapons that travel farther, strike more accurately, operate autonomously and cost less.

India’s industry is adapting to this shift. One example is KAL, a long-range one-way attack drone developed by Noida-based IG Defence. Capable of travelling up to 1,000 km, staying airborne for 7–8 hours and carrying a 50-kg payload, KAL is being positioned for international export opportunities pending government approval.

The global market for such systems has changed dramatically, with cheap drones proving that militaries need not rely solely on multi-million-dollar missiles to threaten distant targets. IG Defence’s founder Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya believes the future battlefield will be defined by autonomous, long-range precision strike capabilities, and his company is betting that friendly nations will want affordable, indigenous systems deployable at short notice.

KAL is only one part of India’s emerging export basket. Drones, counter-UAS systems, radars, artillery, air-defence systems, ammunition, protective equipment and aircraft components are all being marketed abroad. Pinaka rocket systems and ATAGS artillery have already found overseas buyers, while Akash air-defence systems and Swathi weapon-locating radars are also part of the push.

The Philippines has acquired BrahMos, Armenia has bought Pinaka and artillery systems, and other countries are purchasing Dornier aircraft, helicopters, fast interceptor boats, torpedoes and aerospace components. The point is clear: BrahMos may have opened the door, but a much wider range of Indian technologies is now stepping through.

Another dimension of this story lies in the intelligence inside the weapons. Ammunic Systems, led by CEO Priyanka Singhal, argues that India’s export potential should not be viewed only through finished platforms. Electronics such as fuses, guidance systems, sensors and precision modules determine how effectively a weapon performs.

Ammunic has worked with India’s armed forces and DRDO to develop advanced munitions and electronic fuses. DRDO, in collaboration with IIT-Madras and Munitions India, is also converting conventional artillery shells into precision-guided munitions.

This suggests that India’s export future may involve selling critical subsystems and technologies rather than entire platforms, tapping into a potentially larger market. As Singhal notes, India is no longer just assembling hardware but building the intelligence layer that makes weapons smarter.

India has set its sights on ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029–30, a target the Defence Secretary has described as easily achievable.

Achieving it will require more than headline platforms; it will demand a broad ecosystem of companies supplying missiles, rockets, guns, drones, electronics, sensors, ammunition, components and subsystems.

Government data shows that private firms contributed ₹17,353 crore of exports in FY26, while defence PSUs accounted for ₹21,071 crore. This balance highlights the growing role of private industry in India’s defence export ambitions.

The trajectory is clear. India’s defence exports are diversifying beyond BrahMos into a wide spectrum of systems and technologies that reflect the evolving demands of modern warfare.

From long-range drones to precision electronics, the country is positioning itself not just as a supplier of platforms but as a builder of the intelligence that drives them. This marks a decisive shift in India’s role as a defence exporter, with the potential to reshape its global footprint in the years ahead.

Agencies