Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for a new battle tank overhaul and maintenance facility worth 472 crore rupees at the Vehicle Factory in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at the event, the Defence Minister detailed the nation's accelerating progress toward self-reliance in the defence sector. He stated that India's domestic defence production has expanded roughly fourfold over the past decade to reach nearly 1.80 lakh crore rupees, while defence exports have scaled up to approximately 39000 crore rupees.
Decadal Surge in Domestic Defence Production and Exports
Presenting comparative data from the past decade, Rajnath Singh noted that domestic defence manufacturing stood at 46000 crore rupees in 2014, which has now reached about 1.80 lakh crore rupees. Similarly, defence exports have grown from nearly 1000 crore rupees in 2014 to almost 39000 crore rupees today.
The Defence Minister outlined the government's roadmap, confirming an export target of 50000 crore rupees set for the financial year 2028-29. He emphasized that the country is not only manufacturing armaments locally but is also building indigenous capability for long-term maintenance, repair, and technological upgrades. The Defence Minister also shared details regarding this initiative on his official X account.
Jabalpur Facility to Repair T-72 and T-90 Battle Tanks
The upcoming establishment at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur is designed to overhaul and service 80 main battle tanks annually, specifically focusing on the T-72 and T-90 armored vehicles. Expressing confidence in the project's execution, the Defence Minister stated that the facility will adhere to high quality standards and strict completion timelines while creating new employment opportunities for local residents in Madhya Pradesh.
Bridging the Capacity Gap for Indian Army Tank Overhauls
Highlighting the operational requirements of the armed forces, Rajnath Singh explained that the Indian Army requires repair and maintenance for approximately 230 battle tanks each year. Currently, the Heavy Vehicles Factory located at Avadi near Chennai handles the overhaul of around 150 tanks annually.
The new unit in Jabalpur will bridge the remaining shortfall of 80 tanks per year. Once operational, the facility will complete the required industrial capacity for tank maintenance within India, establishing an integrated and self-sustaining industrial ecosystem for heavy military hardware.
