Jun 03, Kathmandu - US military veteran John Spencer praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29th for transforming India into a modern defense power through the 'Make in India' initiative.

"India's transformation into a modern defense power began in 2014, when Prime Minister Modi launched the "Make in India" initiative. The goal was clear: reduce dependence on foreign arms imports and build a world-class domestic defense industry," he said.

Spencer emphasized India's bold move to develop indigenous weapons systems, such as the BrahMos missile, K9 Vajra howitzer, and AK-203 rifle began production domestically, many through technology partnerships but with increasing Indian control," he noted on X.

He highlighted how the initiative incentivized joint ventures and opened defense to foreign direct investment, up to 74 percent, encouraging both public and private sector manufacturers to produce sophisticated military hardware within India.

Spencer took note of other indigenously-developed missiles and drone defense systems which showcased India's offensive capabilities and effectiveness of surveillance. He underlined how Akashteer proved to be one of the strongest shields when Pakistan resorted to drone and missile attacks during Operation Sindoor.

“Operation Sindoor pitted India’s indigenously developed weapons systems against Chinese-supplied platforms fielded by Pakistan. And India didn’t just win on the battlefield—it won the technology referendum. What unfolded was not just retaliation, but the strategic debut of a… https://t.co/laVQBueuA6

— Prof. Shamika Ravi (@ShamikaRavi) May 29, 2025