Indian Defence Manufacturing : a $26 billion opportunity by 2025

Mission

Work closely with the Government towards enabling the growth of the defence industry. Collaborate with experts from the Armed Forces.

Vision

Catalyse the Indian defence industry to effectively contribute to India's national security and become a trustworthy global partner.
Since 2017, the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) has grown and established itself as India’s only Defence Industry association and, today plays a proactive role as an advocate, catalyst, and facilitator for the growth and capability building of the defence industry in India. The Society represents the entire spectrum of Defence and Aerospace manufacturers in India covering both the Public and the Private Sector. Its membership constitutes Large companies, MSMEs, Start-Ups, FOEMs and Academic Institutions which are spread across all states and regions of the country.

SIDM stands as the ‘Voice of the Industry’ and works closely with the Government to shape a conducive policy environment for the growth of the defence Industry in India. SIDM has played an instrumental role in the formulation of key policies related to the Aerospace & Defence sector such as the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, Draft Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2020, Draft Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020 as well as the first and second positive indigenisation lists and the third positive indigenisation list which is currently being formulated. In fact, the change in name of the DPP (Defence Procurement Procedure) to DAP was also recommended by SIDM.

Apart from presenting the industry perspective for the government’s proposed policies, SIDM also sends regular representations to the MoD and other concerned Ministries on issues constraining the industry’s ease of doing business. The Society has full-time in-house knowledge resource for all three Services and via its MoUs with the Army, Air Force and Navy, SIDM provides a platform for interface with the Services and enables the Industry to serve the emerging requirement of the forces.

As India expands its global presence, SIDM has emerged as the single reference point for countries looking to engage with the Indian Industry, having organised numerous bilateral interactions to strengthen India’s defence industrial ties and signed MoUs with industry associations of France, UK, South Korea, Sweden, Brazil & Australia. SIDM is committed towards making India Aatamanirbhar in Defence Production and is “Proud to Arm the Nation”.

SIDM President (2023-25)


Mr Rajinder Singh Bhatia


Mr Rajinder Singh Bhatia has been elected as the President of the Society of Indian Defence Manufactuers for 2023-25. He is President Defence Business Bharat Forge Limited & Chairman of Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, KRAS (A joint venture between Rafael and KSSL), and BFPEL. 


Rajinder Singh Bhatia is an Army Veteran and a prominent Defence Industry leader in India with over 40 years of experience.

Under him, Kalyani Group has forged partnerships and collaborated with major defence and Aerospace OEMs of the world and is today in the forefront of Defence & Aerospace Landscape in the country.

He has been a key member of the Strategic Policy initiatives and policy taskforce as part of government sponsored bodies for Defence & Aerospace.

SIDM Annual Reports