New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India’s recent achievements in defence and self-reliance, saying the developments in June reflect the country’s growing strength and would make every citizen proud.
Addressing the nation in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said that over the past six months India has witnessed several milestones, but the progress made in June stands out for its focus on security and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
He particularly mentioned the induction of three indigenously built naval vessels—INS Dunagiri, INS Sandhayak (often referred to as Sanshodhak in reports) and INS Agray—into the Indian Navy. He said these ships have been designed and manufactured entirely in India, marking a major step towards self-reliance in defence production.
The Prime Minister noted that he had recently attended a naval event in Kolkata where these vessels were formally inducted, strengthening India’s maritime capabilities.
Highlighting achievements in the aviation sector, he said the India-made C-295 military transport aircraft has completed its maiden flight. He added that 40 such aircraft are being manufactured in India, boosting the MSME ecosystem, aerospace industry, and employment opportunities.
He also referred to a significant milestone by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which successfully carried out a flight test of an indigenous long-range land-attack cruise missile.
According to DRDO, the test was conducted on June 15, 2026, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. All test objectives were successfully achieved, with tracking data recorded by multiple integrated systems at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.
The missile has been developed jointly by DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners, with the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru acting as the nodal laboratory. Officials from DRDO, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force witnessed the test.
The Prime Minister said these achievements demonstrate that India is steadily strengthening its defence capabilities across land, sea, and air while moving firmly towards greater self-reliance.
