Sahil Luthra & Make in India: Revolutionising Indigenous Defence
- enquiries06605
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
When India launched the Make in India programme in 2014, the defence sector was at a crossroads — heavily reliant on imports, slow on innovation, and struggling to create strategic depth through local manufacturing. A decade on, the tide is turning — led by agile private-sector players like VTDS (Vijayan Trishul Defence Solutions Pvt. Ltd.), under the stewardship of Sahil Luthra.
This is not just a story of manufacturing weapons. It’s about creating an indigenous ecosystem of strategic deterrence, force multipliers, and dual-use technology — all rooted in India’s soil, for its sovereignty.
Inside India’s Defence Manufacturing Pivot
For decades, India was one of the world’s largest arms importers. But in an era defined by supply chain security, asymmetric warfare, and tech-enabled combat readiness, dependence on foreign OEMs was no longer tenable. The government’s Make in India campaign wasn’t just aspirational; it was existential.
Enter VTDS, an agile, founder-led enterprise that embodies the spirit of this transformation. Established to design and manufacture small-calibre arms and ammunition for the Indian Armed Forces, VTDS is now one of the most promising private defence manufacturers in the country.
At the centre of this push is Sahil Luthra, a first-generation entrepreneur who’s making headlines for the right reasons: scale, intent, and impact.
The Man Behind the Mission: Sahil Luthra
Sahil Luthra, Founder & Managing Director of VTDS, doesn’t come from a defence background. Yet his understanding of India’s security challenges is both nuanced and solutions-first. What sets him apart is a rare combination of operational clarity, strategic foresight, and entrepreneurial aggression — qualities that have turned VTDS into a name worth watching.
Under his leadership:
VTDS secured a 20-hectare plot in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) — a strategic node in India’s national security infrastructure.
The company is building a fully indigenous, scalable production line for small arms and light weapons (SALW) — tailored to Indian battlefield requirements.
He has built direct alignment with DRDO-led research, private-public co-development models, and tactical equipment standardisation protocols.
Jhansi: India’s New Defence Nerve Centre
While the defence ecosystem in India traditionally centred around Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, VTDS made a bold bet: Jhansi.
The site, facilitated by UPEIDA, is part of a state-sponsored effort to decentralise defence industrial growth. With this acquisition, VTDS aims to:
Reduce India’s arms import bill by substituting low-volume, high-precision arms with local manufacturing.
Create jobs and specialised training hubs in Tier-2 India.
Integrate with national initiatives like iDEX, Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, and the Technology Development Fund (TDF).
This move isn’t just about land. It’s about strategic geography, logistical mobility, and supply chain control in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific theatre.
Innovation as a Strategic Lever
VTDS isn’t merely replicating Western models. It’s building combat-ready, lightweight, modular systems that consider India’s climate, terrain, and threat matrix.
The company is investing in:
Advanced metallurgy for barrel and trigger systems.
Smart optics and digital fire control mechanisms.
Dual-use products suitable for homeland security, paramilitary forces, and state police agencies.
What makes Sahil Luthra’s strategy different is his eye on export-readiness — VTDS is already in conversation to supply licensed variants of its weapon systems to Southeast Asia and Africa, in line with India’s growing diplomatic and defence footprint.
From Importer to Integrator: A National Shift
The shift from being the world’s largest defence importer to a net contributor of military-grade solutions is not easy. But it’s happening — and VTDS is a case study in what success looks like.
With Atmanirbhar Bharat as its backbone, and leaders like Sahil Luthra fuelling the momentum, India is now:
Empowering private-sector innovation in combat systems
Reducing procurement delays through industry partnerships
Ensuring real-time feedback loops between end-users and manufacturers
Conclusion: A Legacy in the Making
Sahil Luthra’s VTDS is more than a defence manufacturer. It’s a statement — that Indian innovation, when backed by the right policy frameworks and leadership, can build for global relevance.
As the Make in India mission matures, and defence reforms deepen, VTDS is poised to play a pivotal role in making India not just secure, but sovereign and smart in its defence strategy.
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