NEW DELHI: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Dr Samir V Kamat has expressed confidence that India will meet its defence export target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29.Speaking to reporters after attending the convocation ceremony of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Kamat said the target was set by defence minister Rajnath Singh. “We should achieve Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29, which is the target also set to us by the Raksha Mantri. There is a lot of interest in Pinaka, in ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), in Brahmos, in Akash,” he said.Kamat noted that countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa have shown keen interest in these indigenous defence systems. He added that the recent success of Indian systems in Operation Sindoor has generated strong export prospects, with exports expected to double in the next two to three years, as reported by news agency ANI. India’s defence exports reached a record of Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25. This was a 12.04 per cent rise from Rs 21,083 crore in 2023-24. Defence production also touched an all-time high of Rs 1.51 lakh crore in 2024-25, marking an 18 per cent increase from the previous fiscal and a 90 per cent jump compared to 2019-20.Defence minister Rajnath Singh praised the Department of Defence Production and industry stakeholders for this growth, calling it a sign of India’s strengthening defence industrial base. Public sector undertakings (PSUs) contributed around 77 per cent of total production, while the private sector accounted for 23 per cent.Kamat credited the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives for boosting indigenous manufacturing. “It’s indeed a proud moment for all of us. It’s a reflection of the strength of our R&D and production in the defence domain. I’m sure going ahead, this number will keep increasing…The present government, when it came into power in 2014, started ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and Make in India,” he said.According to the ministry of defence, in 2024-25 India exported a wide range of items, including ammunition, weapons, subsystems, and components to around 80 countries. Officials stress that achieving self-reliance in defence production is critical for national security, especially in light of recent conflicts.