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Apollo Micro Systems just had a big day on Friday. The stock surged over 17% after the company received a government licence to manufacture a wide range of defence weapons and ammunition.
Breaking it down: now, this isn’t your typical defence company. Apollo doesn’t build tanks or fighter jets. Instead, it builds what goes inside them, the brains and nerves. Think control systems, sensors, guidance tech, and embedded electronics.
With this licence, Apollo can now manufacture, assemble, and test high-end weapon systems.
This includes missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, torpedoes, aerial bombs, rockets, and even loitering munitions. It also covers countermeasure systems like flares and decoys, used to protect assets during combat.
Zoom out: India’s defence sector is changing fast.
The government is spending big to upgrade its military. The defence budget has jumped from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27, that’s almost 3x growth.
Earlier, big government companies like HAL and BEL ran the show. But now, the government wants private players in the mix too, especially fast-moving companies that can build the best tech and compete globally.
