Tata Group is in talks to supply military hardware to African nations, according to a report by the Financial Times.
The Indian conglomerate opened a factory in Morocco in September 2025, marking its first defence manufacturing facility overseas, operated by a private Indian company. The plant is expected to produce around 150 armoured platform vehicles for the Moroccan government, and in December 2025, it delivered combat vehicles to the Moroccan army.
The move comes as India seeks to diversify its export markets and strengthen the resilience of its domestic defence industry. New Delhi has set an ambitious target of reaching $5 billion in annual defence exports by 2029, and Africa has emerged as a key focus region.
“Pretty much every country wants to diversify away from their current set of suppliers. It has become a real risk mitigation issue,” Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems, told the Financial Times. “You must have your own core; that is a national imperative.”
Morocco represents Tata’s first foothold on the African continent, but the company plans to build on that presence by pursuing additional contracts with other African governments. Many countries across the region are seeking to modernise their armed forces, while changing geopolitical alliances mean some may be looking to reduce reliance on traditional suppliers, opening up opportunities for newer entrants.
Tata is one of a small but growing group of Indian private-sector defence companies expanding beyond the domestic market. Backed by government reforms that allow greater private participation and encourage foreign partnerships, firms such as Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Forge have increased their focus on exports, particularly to emerging markets.
The push into Africa also highlights a broader shift in the continent’s defence ecosystem. Recent funding announcements, including an investment in Nigerian hardware startup Terra Industries, which develops surveillance and security technologies, signal growing interest in locally relevant, cost-effective defence solutions.
Together, these developments point to Africa becoming an increasingly important destination for Indian defence exports, as both sides look to diversify partnerships and build more self-reliant security capabilities.
