Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reaffirmed India’s strategic direction towards enhancing its defence capabilities, announcing plans for both the acquisition of additional S-400 missile squadrons and the domestic production of advanced fighter jet engines within the next year. Speaking at the Defence Investors Summit, Singh emphasized that while India will continue to procure jet engines from foreign suppliers, such as the imminent deal with General Electric for F-414 engines, the focus remains on achieving self-reliance through indigenous production. He provided insight into the promising collaboration with Safran to develop a new jet engine tailored for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is expected to feature full technology transfer and local manufacturing. The Defence Minister also highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding India’s defence exports, which have reached ₹25,000 crore, and are projected to double by 2030, indicating a significant shift towards India’s growing stature as a global defence supplier. These developments reflect a balanced approach of leveraging proven international systems while steadily advancing domestic capabilities, thereby reinforcing India’s long-term vision of achieving complete indigenisation in its defence manufacturing landscape.