India, June 12 -- India's defence sector is in the midst of a transformative shift. From being largely dependent on public sector undertakings and imports, the country is now building a strong and self-reliant domestic defence industrial base. The catalyst for this change is a bold policy pivot towards strategic integration of the private sector in defence production and procurement. As we look ahead to India's ambition of becoming a global defence manufacturing hub, it is increasingly clear that the private sector must not only be a partner, but a leader in this journey.

The recently announced Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, envisioned as India's first home-grown fifth-generation stealth fighter project, represents a w...