India, May 13 -- India is witnessing a silent but seismic shift - where deeptech meets national security, and startups are suddenly part of the defence equation.

The Timing On Point

India's defence tech opportunity is no longer theoretical. The signals are everywhere:

Over 100 defence tech startups are now operational

FY25-26 defence budget has crossed INR 79,000 Cr, with nearly 70% reserved for domestic procurement

India's defence exports touched $2.63 Bn in FY24, up 32% YoY

Institutional frameworks like iDEX, Mission DefSpace, and the Technology Development Fund are now fully operational

In a major push for indigenisation, the defence ministry recently signed a INR 62,700 Cr contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to procur...