Hyderabad, May 9: N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday said Telangana would emerge as India’s undisputed aerospace and defence capital by 2030. He said the state government was strongly focusing on aerospace and defence manufacturing under its industrial policy.
The Minister spoke at “MSME Spark 3.0 Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing” organised by Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry in association with the Telangana Industries Department at Taj Deccan in Hyderabad.
More than 400 policymakers, defence experts, startups, investors and MSMEs attended the conclave. The event focused on opportunities in India’s growing aerospace and defence manufacturing sector.
Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled his service as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. He said Hyderabad had become one of the world’s most cost effective aerospace destinations because of its strong ecosystem of defence laboratories, research institutions and manufacturing units.
He stated that nearly 1,500 MSMEs in Telangana were already part of the aerospace and defence supply chain. He also highlighted the government’s focus on skill development and future ready education through the proposed TG Young University.
MSME Spark 3.0 highlights defence manufacturing growth
G. Satheesh Reddy said the conclave coincided with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, which showcased India’s indigenous defence capabilities. He said Indian MSMEs played a major role in strengthening the country’s defence ecosystem.
He noted that modern warfare had become technology driven, with drones and advanced systems playing a key role in national security. He also stressed the need for greater participation of women in defence and aerospace sectors.
Satheesh Reddy said India had approved defence acquisition proposals worth nearly Rs. 3.5 lakh crore under the Acceptance of Necessity framework. He added that India had already placed defence orders worth around Rs. 2 lakh crore, including orders for 220 Tejas fighter aircraft.
Chandrika Kaushik said Operation Sindoor demonstrated the strength of India’s indigenous defence systems and highlighted the contribution of MSMEs.
She stated that India’s defence budget for the current year stood at Rs. 7.85 lakh crore. More than 75 percent of the capital outlay had been reserved for domestic industry participation, she added.
Kaushik said over 2,000 industries were currently working as development partners in DRDO projects. She added that DRDO had signed more than 2,200 licensing agreements, with over 90 percent involving private sector participation.
The conclave also featured technical sessions on defence procurement, funding support, investment opportunities and indigenous technology development.
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