Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers

What Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers does

The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 2017 and headquartered at CII premises in Connaught Place, New Delhi. It functions as the recognized apex body of the Indian defence industry, serving as an enabling link between the Indian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence, and defence manufacturers spanning large private primes (L&T, Tata, Mahindra, Bharat Forge, BrahMos Aerospace, MKU), 16,000+ MSMEs, start-ups, foreign OEMs, and academic institutions. SIDM does not develop proprietary technology products; instead it operates a service platform built around policy advocacy, industry–armed forces–government linkages, B2B and B2G matchmaking via delegations and exhibitions (Farnborough, Eurosatory, North/East Tech Symposiums, DEFCORE 2026), international stakeholder engagement through 20+ bilateral MoUs, and consultancy and capacity-building programmes (DACS and the DAMC procurement course, which has trained 900+ executives since 2003).

SIDM's revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual membership subscriptions — ranging from Rs 10,000 for MSMEs (gross sales under Rs 100 crore) to Rs 3,00,000 for large enterprises (gross sales above Rs 700 crore), with associate and institutional tiers at Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively, all subject to 18% GST — supplemented by event and training fees (DAMC, Champion Awards, DEFCORE, regional symposiums) and DACS consultancy revenue. Its leadership comprises Arun T. Ramchandani (L&T) as President and Neeraj Gupta (MKU) as Vice President for FY 2025-27, with Ramesh K as Director General. The organization plays a documented role in shaping Indian defence policy, including DAP 2020, DPM 2020, DPEPP 2020, and the Positive Indigenisation Lists, and operates under the institutional aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Name

Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers

Legal name

Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers

Website

https://sidm.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) is a not-for-profit apex industry association, founded 2017 under CII aegis, serving as the bridge between India's defence manufacturers, the Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Defence through policy advocacy, B2B matchmaking, and capacity-building programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Industry Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) (FSANAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate International / Emerging Markets CVC (FSANAHAM)

Keywords

• Defence industry association
• Policy advocacy services
• Capacity building programmes
• Defence consultancy services
• B2B defence networking

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SIDM generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees structured by company size. Primary members pay entrance fees and annual subscriptions based on gross sales ranging from Rs 10,000 for MSMEs to Rs 3,00,000 for large enterprises. Associate membership (for foreign companies and R&D/academic institutions) is Rs 1,00,000 annually. Institutional membership for R&D/academic institutions is Rs 25,000 annually. GST at 18% is applicable on all fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SIDM is a not-for-profit industry association serving as the apex body of the Indian defence industry. It sells paid memberships (tiered by company gross turnover), delivers consultancy through its Defence & Aerospace Consultancy Services (DACS) vertical, runs paid training via the Defence Acquisition Management Course (DAMC), and organizes membership-based events, awards, and international delegations to connect Indian defence manufacturers with the armed forces, MoD, and global partners.

Product overview

Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) is a not-for-profit industry association serving as the apex body of India's defence industry. SIDM is not a product company but rather an enabling organization that provides a suite of services including Policy Advocacy, Industry-Armed Forces-Government Linkages, B2B Connect, Consultancy (DACS), Capacity Building (DAMC), and organizes events like North Tech Symposium and DEFCORE. The association publishes the SIDM Monthly Bulletin and Defence Weekly Update, operates a Knowledge Centre with research publications, administers the SIDM Champion Awards program recognizing innovation and export excellence, and maintains a Directory of Indian Manufacturing Capabilities. SIDM also operates strategic initiatives including the Defence Export Promotion Council (DEPC) and Defence Technology Incubation Council (DTIC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SIDM Membership (Tiered Annual Subscription) Tiered annual subscription membership for Indian defence manufacturers, foreign OEMs, and R&D/academic institutions, providing access to policy advocacy, B2B networks, international delegations, and capacity-building programmes. Members include Larsen & Toubro, Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge, Mahindra Defence, BrahMos Aerospace, Adani Defence, and 16,000+ MSMEs.
• Policy Advocacy Represents the Indian defence industry before policymakers, instrumental in shaping Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, Draft Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2020, Defence Procurement and Equipment Pricing Policy (DPEPP) 2020, and the Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs). Provides industry perspective on procurement reforms and ease-of-doing-business measures.
• Industry-Armed Forces-Government Linkages Facilitates direct interface between defence manufacturers and Indian Army, Navy, Air Force (each under signed MoU), Service Headquarters, and the Ministry of Defence. Includes regular symposia, webinars on Navy armaments/network-centric ops/radars/warship design, and structured procurement-process familiarisation.
• B2B and B2G Connect Services Hosts incoming foreign delegations (e.g., GIFAS industrial missions) and mounts outbound Indian industry delegations to partner countries. Facilitates B2B meetings, capability discovery, and partnership exploration for Indian defence manufacturers at scale. Example: 390+ B2B meetings organised during the GIFAS industrial mission to India in April 2018.
• Defence & Aerospace Consultancy Services (DACS) Paid consultancy vertical that maps the competence and capability of Indian industry for defence manufacturing, providing impartial assessment of existing capability and advisory on supply-chain integration opportunities. Direct contact: [email protected] / 011-47079722.
• Defence Acquisition Management Course (DAMC) Paid two-day certificate programme that familiarises Indian industry executives with the MoD defence procurement process, covering DAP, RFP lifecycle, contracting frameworks, and indigenisation routes. More than 900 participants have completed DAMC since 2003.
• SIDM Champion Awards Programme Annual awards programme recognising Indian industries across four categories — technology/product innovation, import substitution, niche technological capability creation, and export performance — conferred in Large, MSME, and Start-up/SME sub-categories. Winners are felicitated by the Defence Minister and selected by an independent jury chaired by the former Chairman of DRDO.
• North Tech Symposium Three-day symposium jointly organised with Indian Army Northern/Central Commands featuring defence industry showcase, vendor stalls, and procurement-focused discussions. The 2026 edition in Prayagraj had 284 vendor stalls.
• East Tech Symposium Symposium jointly organised by HQ Eastern Command (Indian Army), SIDM, and CII, held in Ranchi, Jharkhand to showcase defence manufacturing capabilities in eastern India and connect vendors with armed forces procurement teams.
• DEFCORE 2026 (World Defence & Aerospace Components Expo & Conference) World Defence & Aerospace Components Expo & Conference scheduled for November 2026 in Visakhapatnam under the theme 'Building Resilient Global Defence Supply Chains', convening MoD, Armed Forces, DPSUs, OEMs, MSMEs, and start-ups.
• International Defence Industry Delegations and Export Facilitation SIDM coordinates Indian industry participation in international defence shows including Farnborough International Air Show (FIAS), Eurosatory, and ISDEF; coordinates outbound delegations to France, Sweden, USA, Israel, Korea, Germany, Spain, UAE, Japan; and facilitates incoming counterpart-association delegations to India under bilateral MoUs with 20+ foreign defence industry associations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 participants have benefited from Defence Acquisition Management Course (DAMC) since 2003
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, important and minor.

• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026India and EU signed a technology and defence partnership making India the third Asian country after Japan and South Korea to have such a security and defence pact with the EU. Partnership aims to enhance collaboration in maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and emerging defence domains.
• GIFAS (French Aerospace Industries Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed to promote partnerships and cooperation between Indian and French defence industries. Jointly organized events including major industrial mission in April 2018 with 390+ B2B meetings, and India-France Defence Industry Seminar at DefExpo 2020 on joint manufacturing for Make in India.
• SOFF (Swedish Security and Defence Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed to promote bilateral defence industrial relations with dedicated Joint Working Group formed. Organized India-Sweden Defence Industry Day in December 2017 and webinar on Capitalising Opportunities for Growth and Security in June 2021 with both countries' Defence Ministers.
• KDIA (Korean Defence Industries Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed during Defence Minister's visit to Republic of Korea in September 2019. India-Korea CEOs Forum organized and India-Korea Defence Industry Seminar at DefExpo 2020 on fostering partnerships for Make in India.
• UKIBC (UK-India Business Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed at DefExpo 2020 to foster bilateral defence trade. Multiple programmes held on mutual opportunities, webinars on UK-Indian Defence Cooperation conducted. Partnership extended with UK-India Defence & Global Supply Chain Initiative for co-developing and co-producing defence technologies.
• ABIMDE (Brazilian Defence Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed after first India-Brazil Defence Industry Dialogue in January 2020. Four specific bilateral engagements conducted in 2020-2021 showcasing capabilities. SIDM-KPMG Report on Collaborative Partnerships released December 2020.
• Australian Defence Industry NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed on 23 September 2021 given emergence of QUAD. India-Australia Defence Cooperation Session organized in December 2020 as part of MOD-CII-SIDM Global Outreach Series.
• Indian ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU with Indian Army to facilitate industry-military collaboration towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence. Jointly organized North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj with 284 vendor stalls, and East Tech Symposium 2025 in Ranchi.
• Indian NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU with Indian Navy for industry collaboration. SIDM organizes regular webinar schedule with Navy covering topics like armament, network centric operations, IT projects, radars, warship design, and indigenisation requirements.
• Indian Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU with Indian Air Force to strengthen industry-air force linkage. Works towards meeting evolving requirements of Indian Air Force through industry collaboration.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIDM operates under CII's aegis. CII provides institutional support and SIDM carries forward CII's legacy in bridging information gap between government and industry on Indian industry capabilities.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for promoting procurement of Indian defence products and services through government e-procurement platform.
• SIDBIimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support MSMEs and start-ups in defence sector with access to financing and credit facilities.
• AICTEimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for promoting future-ready defence workforce through technical education and skill development initiatives.
• Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to facilitate veteran employment in defence manufacturing sector.
• German BDSVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with German defence industry association for bilateral cooperation and technology exchange.
• Spanish TEDAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Spanish defence and aerospace association for industrial cooperation, particularly relevant for C-295 transport aircraft programme and upcoming Spain-India defence workshop.
• UAE EDCC & EDGEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UAE defence industry bodies. India-UAE defence manufacturers have signed MoUs for joint development of unmanned systems and co-production of platforms.
• Japan ISICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIDM spearheading India-Japan Joint Study Group to identify areas of mutual interest for defence cooperation. Both industry associations working to identify items of mutual use and boost bilateral trade.
• USA NDIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with US National Defense Industrial Association. SIDM hosted multiple US-India Defence Industry interactions including Lockheed Martin Suppliers Conference, US-India Defence Ties Conference, and Defence Industry Collaboration Forum.
• Indian Missions AbroadimportantGTM or Marketing PartnerSIDM works with Indian Embassies and Missions abroad to expand industry's global footprint and identify new export opportunities and partnerships.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KDIA (Korea Defence Industry Association): KDIA is the Korean defence industry association with a mandate of policy advocacy, international partnerships, and defence export promotion. SIDM has a bilateral MoU with KDIA, and both focus heavily on export facilitation — KDIA in the Korean context, SIDM in the Indian context.
• ABIMDE (Brazilian Association of Defence and Security Materials Industries): ABIMDE is the Brazilian defence and security industry association, representing manufacturers and providing policy advocacy and export promotion. SIDM has a bilateral MoU and jointly publishes country knowledge reports with ABIMDE, making it a direct functional peer.
• BDSV (Bundesverband der Deutschen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsindustrie): BDSV is the German defence and security industry association, advocating on policy, export licensing, and international partnerships. SIDM has a bilateral MoU with BDSV, and both serve equivalent coordination roles for their respective national defence industrial bases.
• ADS Group (Aerospace, Defence, Security): ADS is the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, and security sectors, representing primes, SMEs, and the supply chain to the UK MoD. It is a structural analogue to SIDM, focused on policy advocacy, international promotion, and supply-chain integration.
• SOFF (Security and Defence Industry Association, Sweden): SOFF is the Swedish security and defence industry association with a focused mandate on international cooperation and policy advocacy. SIDM has an MoU and a Joint Working Group with SOFF, making it one of SIDM's closest functional counterparts in the Nordic region.
• GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales): GIFAS is the French aerospace and defence industry association, with a comparable mandate of industry representation, international promotion, and B2B matchmaking. SIDM has an MoU with GIFAS and jointly organises Indo-French industry seminars, making it a direct functional peer.
• TEDAE (Spanish Association of Defence, Aeronautics and Space Technology Companies): TEDAE is the Spanish defence, aeronautics, and space industry association, with a structure and member-service mix (policy advocacy, international cooperation, capability mapping) closely aligned to SIDM. SIDM has an active MoU with TEDAE, including cooperation on the C-295 programme.
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): NDIA is the premier US defence industry association, providing policy advocacy, networking events, and member services. SIDM has an active MoU with NDIA, and both serve as the collective voice of their national defence industrial bases vis-à-vis government and military customers.

Broad incumbents

• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI): FICCI is a large Indian industry chamber with a defence committee and aerospace division, often paralleling SIDM's advocacy and MoD-engagement work. It is a broad incumbent — overlapping in mandate and membership but operating as a multi-sector chamber rather than a defence-focused apex body.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII): CII is SIDM's parent industry body and one of India's largest business associations. It is a broad incumbent that operates across sectors (not just defence) and provides SIDM with institutional infrastructure, governance oversight, and cross-sectoral convening power.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sidmindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/SIDMIND
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-indian-defence-manufacturers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers