Question
Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India?
1Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets
2T-90 MK-III Tanks
3Akula Class Submarine
A1 and 2 ✓
B1 and 3
C1 only
D2 only
📌 Three Categories of Defence Hardware — Know the Difference
Indigenous
Designed AND manufactured in India: HAL Tejas, Arjun MBT, INS Vikrant, BrahMos (Indo-Russian JV design), INS Arihant (Arihant-class SSBNs), HAL Dhruv, Pinaka MLRS
Licensed
Foreign design, manufactured in India under licence: Su-30 MKI (HAL Nashik) · T-90 Bhishma (HVF Avadi) · T-72 Ajeya · AK-203 rifles · Bofors upgrades
Imported/Leased
Bought or leased from foreign countries — NOT made in India: Akula-class submarines (leased from Russia) · S-400 Triumf · Rafale (France) · Apache/Chinook helicopters · P-8I Poseidon
Each Item — Manufacturing Status Verified
1
✓ Manufactured in India — HAL Nashik (Licensed)
Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets
The Su-30 MKI is manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik Division under a licensed production agreement with Russia’s Sukhoi. 222 Su-30 MKI have been produced at HAL Nashik since 2004. The AL-31FP turbofan engines are manufactured at HAL’s Koraput Division in Odisha. Various accessories and avionics are produced at HAL’s Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru divisions.The Su-30 MKI is the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF), constituting about 14 of its 30 fighter squadrons. While the basic design is Russian (Sukhoi), the MKI variant has been customised for India with French, Israeli, and Indian avionics. HAL is also upgrading the fleet with the domestically developed Virupaksha AESA radar.
✓ Licensed production: HAL Nashik Division
222 aircraft built since 2004 · Engines at HAL Koraput · Manufactured in India ✓ · Upgrade: Virupaksha AESA radar (indigenous)
2
✓ Manufactured in India — HVF Avadi (Licensed)
T-90 MK-III Tanks (Bhishma)
The T-90 Main Battle Tank, known as the T-90 Bhishma in Indian service, is manufactured in India at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) under a licensed production agreement with Russia. HVF was set up in 1965 with Soviet assistance and has been producing Russian-origin tanks ever since (T-54/55, T-72 Ajeya, and now T-90 Bhishma).India has produced over 1,000 T-90 tanks domestically. A 2019 deal (.12 billion) authorised production of 464 additional T-90S tanks at HVF using Russian designs and parts. The T-90 is India’s premier Main Battle Tank, with over 2,000 in service. Indigenous upgrades include new thermal sights and communications systems.
✓ Licensed production: Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi
1,000+ produced · 2019 deal for 464 more · T-90 Bhishma manufactured in India ✓ · HVF set up 1965 with Soviet assistance
3
✗ NOT manufactured in India — leased from Russia
Akula Class Submarine
The Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarines are built in Russian shipyards and leased to India — they are NOT manufactured in India. India has operated Akula-class submarines under the name “Chakra” (INS Chakra, INS Chakra II) on 10-year leases from Russia.Critical distinction: India’s own nuclear submarines are the Arihant-class (INS Arihant, INS Arighat) — indigenous ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) built at the Ship Building Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam. These are different from the Akula-class, which are attack submarines (SSNs) leased from Russia.
UPSC trap: Students confuse “India operates Akula subs” with “India manufactures Akula subs.” Operating ≠ Manufacturing. The Chakra submarines return to Russia after the lease period — they have never been built on Indian soil.
✗ Akula = Russian shipyards + leased to India (Chakra I & II)
India’s OWN nuclear submarines = Arihant-class SSBNs built at Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam. Akula ≠ Arihant. NOT manufactured in India ✗
Key Indian Defence Manufacturing Facilities — UPSC Reference
| Platform | Manufacturer / Facility | Category |
| Su-30 MKI ✓ | HAL Nashik Division (engines: HAL Koraput) | Licensed production — Russia (Sukhoi) |
| T-90 Bhishma ✓ | Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, Chennai | Licensed production — Russia |
| Akula-class (Chakra) ✗ | Russian shipyards (Amur, Komsomolsk-on-Amur) | Leased from Russia — NOT made in India |
| Arihant-class SSBNs | Ship Building Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam | Indigenous — India’s own nuclear submarines |
| HAL Tejas | HAL, Bengaluru | Indigenous design and manufacture |
| Arjun MBT | HVF Avadi + CVRDE (Combat Vehicles Research and Dev. Establishment) | Indigenous design and manufacture |
| BrahMos missile | BrahMos Aerospace: Hyderabad, Pilani, Thiruvananthapuram | Indo-Russian JV — manufactured in India |
| INS Vikrant | Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi | Indigenous — India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier |
| Rafale | Dassault Aviation, France | Imported — NOT made in India (yet; future Rafale Marine in talks) |
| S-400 Triumf | Almaz-Antey, Russia | Imported — NOT made in India |
Memory Trick
🧠 The Akula-Arihant Confusion — Never Mix These Up
Akula = Russian, Leased: Akula-class = nuclear attack submarines (SSNs). India called them “INS Chakra.” Built in Russia, leased to India for 10 years, returned to Russia. Never manufactured in India. The word “Akula” means “shark” in Russian.
Arihant = Indian, Indigenous: Arihant-class = India’s own nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). Built at Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam. INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighat (2024). “Arihant” means “destroyer of enemies” in Sanskrit. 100% designed and built in India.
Su-30 MKI = HAL Nashik: 222 aircraft licence-produced since 2004. Engines at Koraput. Manufactured in India — counts as “Made in India” (licensed production). IAF’s workhorse fighter.
T-90 Bhishma = HVF Avadi: Over 1,000 produced at Heavy Vehicles Factory. Manufactured in India (licensed). Same HVF also makes T-72 Ajeya and Arjun MBT. Avadi, Chennai = India’s tank manufacturing capital.
