India’s focus on self-reliance in defense is crucial as the South Asian nation aims to challenge the world’s largest military powers For many decades after independence, the Indian armed forces imported military hardware from long-term friend and strategic ally the Soviet Union, and subsequently Russia. France, too, became a significant source for military aviation supplies to India. Israel emerged as important source from the 1990s, as did the US after 2008.   India continues to be one of the