During the dark days of the Covid pandemic, as the world was locked down, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat. The shining light of this call has since become a mantra in many sectors, in the defence sector self-reliance is fast becoming the cornerstone of policy. The conflicts in West Asia and Eastern Europe have now made clear the importance of atmanirbharta. Both nations have faced off against much larger and much well equipped foes and have denied the forces opposing them outright victory. Both Iran and Ukraine have faced heavy losses, but are now placed in a comfortable situation on the high table based on their internal defence production capability, with Ukraine alone producing 40 lakh drones in 2025 and poised to cross the 50 lakh mark in 2026.
Iran’s ‘atmanirbhar’ war strategy
Iran, has been under severe sanctions since 1979, with more severe sanctions being levied in the previous decade over the country’s nuclear program. Tehran had to rewrite its war strategy knowing fully well that no other country would come to its support and that no other country would arm it. With an antiquated equipment profile across the armed forces, Iran penned an ‘atmanirbhar’ war strategy which focused on resilience and increasing economic pressure on the world in order to get countries to exert pressure on the United States. Iran also built up its arsenal to reflect this reality, focussing on ballistic missiles and cheap drones to compensate for its outdated military equipment, leveraging its geography to the fullest and improving on this asset by building tunnels out of the reach of its adversary.
For Ukraine its ‘atmanirbharta + improvisation’
Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian border on February 24th, 2022, with the Kremlin planning to end the ‘special military operation’ in three days, with no end to the conflict in sight after 1,574 days of fighting. Ukraine, initially armed with Soviet era holdovers and weapons donated by western nations, soon started improvising using drones in an offensive role. Initially, these commercially available off-the shelf systems were used for reconnaissance, then they were used to drop small grenades and now the Ukrainians started flying explosive laden drones on to the enemy. Now, both sides in the conflict are using these systems. The flat terrain of eastern Europe, best suited for mobile armoured warfare has almost entirely been restricted to static trench warfare, as seen in the First World War. The Ukrainians are now leading the way in the use of drone warfare and are using drones built domestically in large
Atmanirbharta: the road India is paving
Even before PM’s call for atmanirbharta, India was already working to improve India’s defence manufacturing prowess. The closure of international supply chains during the Covid-19 pandemic was critical to push India to take the path of self-reliance. India’s pursuit of defence self-reliance is best understood as a tailored approach that builds on its own strengths rather than copying the paths of others. Unlike Iran, which has relied heavily on missiles, or Ukraine, which has leaned on drones during its war, India has the advantage of a wider spectrum of options. Its defence ecosystem spans missiles, aircraft, naval systems, space assets, and emerging technologies, giving it a more versatile foundation for research and development. This diversity allows India to design a strategy that suits its unique geography, threat environment, and long-term ambitions.Operation Sindoor demonstrated the dividends of this approach. India relied extensively on domestic technology, from Akash missiles to modified air defence guns, proving that indigenous systems could deliver results in combat. The operation highlighted how playing to national strengths can yield operational success while reducing dependency on foreign suppliers. Building on this, India is now investing in asymmetric capabilities such as hypersonic long-range anti-ship missiles and the clever employment of the S-400 system. These tools are designed to imbalance adversaries by creating cost-effective deterrence against larger forces, echoing lessons from Iran and Ukraine but executed in a distinctly Indian way.The economic dimension of self-reliance is equally important. Indigenous systems like BrahMos and Akash are already finding export markets, generating revenue and strengthening diplomatic ties. Defence exports not only reduce the burden of imports but also create jobs and stimulate industrial growth. By positioning itself as a supplier of advanced yet affordable systems, India can expand its influence across Asia and Africa while reinforcing its own economy.Achieving this vision requires a whole-of-nation effort. Defence self-reliance cannot be confined to the armed forces or government laboratories alone. It demands integration of industry, academia, start-ups, and policy frameworks. Initiatives such as Make in India and iDEX are steps toward fostering innovation and collaboration, but continuity and scale are essential. India must indigenise critical subsystems, secure supply chains and invest in dual-use technologies that bridge civilian and military applications. Only then can it ensure strategic autonomy in the face of evolving threats.The path ahead is both time consuming and demanding, but India’s tailored approach offers a roadmap that is both pragmatic and ambitious. By combining operational proof, asymmetric innovation, economic dividends and a whole of the nation approach, India can transform self-reliance into a cornerstone of its security and global standing.