# Modi targets hypersonic leadership as defence output rises fourfold 2026-08-15T08:43:23+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his Independence Day address to call for Indian leadership in hypersonic technology, drones and counter-drone systems. He said defence production had grown nearly fourfold in 12 years and urged India to move from arms buyer to global supplier. The New Indian Express reported that India’s products now reach about 100 countries, while exports have risen almost 50 times. The Times of India reported exports rising from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26. Modi also said work on Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a proposed multi-layered air defence network, was progressing rapidly. He linked defence self-reliance to cybersecurity, civil defence and women’s participation in the armed forces. The speech also covered an AI skilling mission for one crore youth, free online coaching, semiconductor expansion and a nuclear energy target of 100 GW by 2047, according to India Today. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - newindianexpress.com - indiatoday.in Tags: Atmanirbhar Bharat, DRDO, Narendra Modi, Sudarshan Chakra, Tejas Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/modi-calls-for-global-defence-exports-and-hypersonic-leadership/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/modi-calls-for-global-defence-exports-and-hypersonic-leadership/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.