The year 2025 was in many ways a defining moment for India to display its military prowess. Be it defending the soil in response to terrorism or a push for self-reliance, there was hardly a dull moment in drafting India’s defence policies this year.
India saw to it that its
defence infrastructure was on par with the rest of the world, as global shifts lead us to uncertainty in the coming years. From increasing its own military production to acquiring important assets from abroad and even partake in joint exercises, India was on top of its game in 2025 when it comes to defence.
Here’s a look at how it was a rewarding year for the Indian defence ecosystem:
Operation Sindoor
Although it came as a befitting reply to terrorism that killed many in Pahalgam this year, Operation Sindoor was, by far, the watershed moment in the military that this country has seen in a long time.
The operation showcased full tri-services coordination, seamless integration of indigenous systems, and use of advanced digital and satellite-enabled targeting. This calibrated, non-escalatory action shattered old thresholds of cross-border deterrence and redefined India’s message against terror, integrating economic and non-kinetic tools alongside military responses.
India’s deployment of the
S-400 missile system and the BrahMos missiles, which New Delhi co-manufactured with Moscow, was exemplary during the military conflict with Pakistan.
Following India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan, New Delhi emphasised that the strikes were limited and non-escalatory.
However, Pakistan responded with a military offensive three days later. The Indian armed forces successfully repelled the attack, and during the conflict, the S-400 air defence system was credited with intercepting and downing Pakistani drones and missiles.
Over 600 Pakistani drones were downed or repelled by the
Indian Army’s air defence (AD) units, which were deployed along the western front during Operation Sindoor. The army mobilised over 1,000 AD gun systems and 750 short—and medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems in double-quick time.
Tejas exports, BrahMos deals
Following Operation Sindoor, India’s indigenous defence capabilities, including the Tejas fighter jet and BrahMos missile, gained strong international recognition.
In September, India signed a major contract for
97 fourth-generation Tejas jets, a move aimed at reducing the IAF to an all-time low of 29 fighter squadrons, each comprising 16 to 18 jets.
The order came following Operation Sindoor, which saw Pakistan use Chinese-origin jets like J-10s armed with PL-15, and made IAF come to the conclusion based on an internal assessment that it will need far more than even its “authorised” 42.5 fighter squadrons.
In 2025, India’s
BrahMos Aerospace secured major missile export deals worth approximately $482 million with two nations, believed to include Indonesia and another ASEAN country. Negotiations with Indonesia have reached the final stages and are pending Russian approval, while contract signings are expected by year-end. These agreements mark a significant expansion of the BrahMos missile’s global footprint after the landmark sale to the Philippines in 2022.
After the BrahMos missile proved highly effective in Operation Sindoor,
India and Russia began negotiations to jointly manufacture an advanced version of the missile. Russia, earlier this year, offered full technical cooperation for the upgraded missile in India.
Quad shifts
In 2025, the Quad shifted focus toward practical cooperation in critical technologies, infrastructure, and regional security, with India taking an active strategic lead. Regular summits and ministerial meetings institutionalised the Quad further, helping it adapt to new challenges and making it a stable platform for Indo-Pacific dialogue.
India hosted the inaugural Quad Ports of the Future Conference to improve sustainable port infrastructure and logistics in the region, highlighting its central role in maritime security and supply chain resilience.
Quad partners ramped up collaboration on supply chain security, digital connectivity, and cyber resilience programs. Joint initiatives like the Open Radio Access Network and the Clean Energy Supply Chains diversified technology access and ensured transparent standards for critical sectors.
India also led educational and innovation outreach, expanding the Quad STEM Fellowship and scholarships for Indo-Pacific students and supporting the Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group, which tackled new threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles and CBRN risks.
India–Russia defence ties under sanctions pressure
This year was a good one for India-Russia defence ties. Bypassing US pressures on New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases, defence deals between the two countries soared in 2025.
Moscow has reaffirmed its commitment to deliver the remaining
units of the S-400 air defence system to India by 2026. India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five squadrons of the S-400 Triumf missile system, a state-of-the-art air defence platform capable of engaging multiple aerial threats at long ranges. Three squadrons have already been delivered.
In September, Russia submitted a proposal for the supply and local production of its fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets. Russia continues to be India’s largest defence supplier, even as New Delhi expands its sources for military equipment. From 2020 to 2024, Russia provided 36 per cent of India’s arms imports, with France supplying 33 per cent and Israel 13 per cent, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
India-US defence framework
The most notable defence deal between India and the United States announced in 2025 was the signing of a
10-year Defence Framework Agreement.
The new India–US Defence Framework Agreement encompasses strategic logistics, joint production, and technology transfer as its core pillars. The signing of the agreement is being seen as a significant push to counter China’s expanding influence across the Indo-Pacific region.
The pact between the two nations is expected to deepen military interoperability, enabling the seamless use of each other’s bases, logistics, and maintenance facilities. The agreement will also secure long-term access to advanced defence technologies, crucial for India’s indigenous defence production and modernisation.
The United States has also cleared the sale of the
FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile system and the M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles to India, a development that will strengthen New Delhi’s military capabilities.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the sale in a notification saying that the US State Department has approved the sale of $93 million worth of military equipment. The purchase includes 100 Javelin missiles, one fly-to-buy round, 25 command-launch units, training aids, simulation rounds, spare parts and full lifecycle support.
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