DefExpo 2026: Defence Exports, Tejas Mk1A & MCQs

India's defence exports surged past ₹21,083 crore, reaching over 85 friendly foreign nations across Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Domestic defence production surpassed ₹1,27,265 crore, driven by private sector partnerships and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, the Mach 2.8 BrahMos cruise missile is a premier precision strike weapon exported in a $375M deal.

The Akash missile system intercepts hostile aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones up to 25 km, featuring over 96% indigenous content.

Named after Lord Shiva's bow, the Pinaka system delivers salvoes of 12 guided/unguided rockets up to 75 km within 44 seconds.

ATAGS features an extended firing range of over 45 km with automated ammunition handling, setting global performance records.

HAL is manufacturing 83 Tejas Mk1A jets (plus an additional 97 aircraft under procurement) from its aircraft manufacturing divisions in Bengaluru and Nashik.

The Mk1A incorporates active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, digital radar warning receivers, self-protection jammers, and improved maintainability.

The landmark MoU enables 80% technology transfer to HAL for manufacturing GE F414-INS6 turbofan engines in India.

Over 4,500 military platforms and sub-assemblies have been embargoed for import across multiple tranches, stimulating domestic R&D.

The allocation ensures that the majority of modern procurement contracts directly feed Indian private industries and state-owned defense corporations.

The Uttar Pradesh DIC (6 nodes) and Tamil Nadu DIC (5 nodes) offer plug-and-play testing infrastructure and defense startup incubators.

Launched in 2018, iDEX provides grants up to ₹1.5 crore (and up to ₹10 crore under iDEX Prime) to startups solving armed forces challenges.

BEL is a Navratna DPSU that designs communication equipment, weapon control systems, naval sonars, and EVMs.

DRDO was formed in 1958 by merging the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production.

Drawn from ancient Vedic scriptures, the motto affirms that national military strength is rooted in scientific discovery.

The 7 new DPSUs (such as Munitions India Ltd, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd, and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd) operate with corporate boards.

Munitions India Limited is the country's largest manufacturer of military ammunition, explosive materials, and guided artillery projectiles.

AVNL manufactures tracked armored fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, mine-protected vehicles, and combat engineering systems.

The Arjun Mk1A features 71 design improvements including computerized fire control, day-and-night thermal optics, and Kanchan explosive reactive armor.

Named after General Zorawar Singh, the light tank operates in extreme cold and thin air across rugged Himalayan mountain passes.

Astra Mk1 is an all-weather BVR air-to-air missile with active radar homing, integrated on Sukhoi-30MKI, Tejas, and MiG-29K jets.

VSHORADS is a man-portable 4th-generation air defense missile featuring an uncooled imaging infrared (IIR) seeker.

LCH Prachand is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of taking off and landing at altitudes of 5,000 meters in the Siachen Glacier.

SBC Visakhapatnam constructed INS Arihant, INS Arighaat, and subsequent nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines under Naval command.

MDL is India's premier naval defense shipyard, having built destroyers, stealth frigates, and Project-75 conventional submarines.

CSL constructed the 45,000-tonne INS Vikrant, making India one of only six nations capable of building an aircraft carrier indigenously.

The Srijan portal displays thousands of imported sub-components, enabling domestic MSMEs to partner with DPSUs for import substitution.

DAP 2020 prioritizes ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)'—Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured equipment with at least 50% domestic content.

Buy (Indian-IDDM) is the highest priority category in capital procurement, legally ensuring that indigenously designed defense products take precedence over imports.