CII Vendor Connect Expo Pushes Indigenous Defence Manufacturing, Opens Doors for MSMEs
CHANDIGARH, JULY 13: Calling for greater industry participation in defence production, the Indian Air Force and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday urged Indian manufacturers, particularly MSMEs, to strengthen indigenous manufacturing and build a robust domestic defence supply chain.
The call came at the inauguration of the two-day CII Vendor Connect Expo 2026 at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Region headquarters in Chandigarh, where nearly 70 companies from major manufacturing hubs across the country are showcasing engineering, precision manufacturing and industrial technology solutions.
Addressing the gathering, Wing Commander Ajay Gandhi of the Indian Air Force's 3 Base Repair Depot said India's defence self-reliance depends on developing reliable indigenous alternatives to imported equipment.
He stressed that building domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities would be crucial for creating resilient defence supply chains while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.
Neeraj Srivastava, Technical Director at DRDO's Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), said Indian industry has a key role in scaling defence manufacturing.
He encouraged more vendors, especially MSMEs, to register under the DRDO's SAMAR framework and utilise TBRL's testing and evaluation facilities to develop indigenous defence products.
The expo, being held on July 13-14, has drawn exhibitors from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Chandigarh.
It is designed as a business-to-business platform to connect manufacturers with procurement agencies, promote technology partnerships and strengthen domestic supply chains.
Industry representatives said the initiative is expected to improve collaboration between strategic buyers and Indian manufacturers, boosting the country's manufacturing competitiveness and supporting the goal of defence self-reliance.
