Mint Explainer | How ‘local’ is India’s defence infrastructure, really?

Where do other countries stand in defence autonomy?

By far, China is the undisputed global leader in independence and autonomy of defence production and design. A 2023 note by think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) estimated that Beijing had already achieved 92% local sourcing for its defence production requirements, including components for ballistics, aerospace and electronics. Russia, according to a 12 March Ukrainian foreign intelligence note, had 70% localization of finished defence equipment. The US, the world’s largest defence spender at $921 billion as of 1 January, ranked just lower at 69%, but is aiming for a minimum localization threshold of 75%, starting in 2029.