Defence is a key manufacturing sector under the Government of India’s Make in India initiative. Expectations from this sector are high. Defence manufacturing is expected to gather pace, deliver indigenous cutting-edge capabilities to the Armed Forces, enhance supply chain resilience, and contribute to India’s growing export basket. Defence exports are also expected to generate geopolitical leverage and reduce India’s import bill. However, the road to improving defence exports has obstacles that must be overcome through a combination of policy initiatives, industry efforts, and innovation.