NEW DELHI: Indian Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan has publicly expressed deep concerns over the country’s defence industry, highlighting persistent delays in the supply of weapons to the armed forces.
Chauhan’s remarks, reported by Indian publication The Print, reflect growing frustration within the military over the slow progress of the “Make in India” defence initiative. He urged domestic companies to demonstrate genuine patriotism alongside their profit-making efforts.
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“Defence reforms cannot be one-sided. The industry must honestly assess its capabilities,” Chauhan said. “Signing contracts but failing to deliver on time undermines our industrial potential. Companies need to be truthful about their local capabilities, as this directly impacts national security.”
Chauhan also pointed out that many firms claim their products are 70 percent locally manufactured, which, according to him, is often misleading. The criticism comes amid concerns that several defence companies have failed to supply modern weapons on schedule, despite receiving billions in government funding during the Modi era.
Observers note that Chauhan’s public criticism underscores internal mismanagement and poor planning within the Indian military, exposing frustrations that have cast doubts over the country’s military modernization efforts and revealed vulnerabilities within its defence sector.
