Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan issued a sharp warning to India’s defence industry on Friday. He urged companies to take responsibility for delays, inflated claims and slow delivery, which he said weaken military readiness.
Speaking at an event in Delhi, he reminded private manufacturers that national interest must guide their work. Profit alone, he stressed, cannot shape the defence sector. He pointed out that the Army found repeated lapses during the fifth and sixth Equipment Procurement cycles. Many firms promised advanced capability but failed to meet deadlines.
Gen Chauhan asked companies to be honest about technological limits. Hidden gaps, he said, leave the armed forces exposed and reduce their operational strength. He also criticised firms that exaggerated their level of indigenous content. False claims in this area, he noted, raise serious security risks.
He emphasised that Make-in-India defence goals will succeed only if products meet global standards. Indian companies must match global pricing and improve efficiency. Overpriced systems, he said, cannot compete in international markets.
Gen Chauhan concluded by urging the industry to rebuild trust. Transparency, timely delivery and accurate capability reporting, he said, are now essential for India’s defence reforms.
