As India approaches 100 years of Independence in 2047, we must ask: how sovereign are our defence capabilities? In a world where supply chain disruptions, cyber warfare, and grey-zone threats define modern conflict, India’s defence transformation is not optional; it is existential.
Recent progress, strategic dialogues, rising exports, and large-scale procurement are evident. But are we moving fast and boldly enough to lead?
Our defence manufacturing aspirations, encapsulated in the vision of Atmanirbhar, Agrani, and Atulya Bharat 2047 (a KPMG – CII report), are rooted in a clear understanding that strategic autonomy begins with domestic capability. India’s focus on building a strong, self-reliant defence base has gained significant momentum. Policies like Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 and reserving 75 per cent of capital procurement for domestic sources have laid the foundation for increased indigenous production. Yet, the journey towards full-spectrum self-reliance is far from complete.
Reliance on imports for systems like propulsion and avionics makes it imperative to scale domestic R&D to 10-15 per cent of total defence spend. It is only through R&D that we can ensure that long-term capability development is both resilient and scalable.
India has made remarkable strides in defence exports, growing nearly 30-fold over the past decade and we aim to rise from 28th to the Top 5 arms exporters by 2038 and for this India must ensure quality compliance, global certification, and strategic branding. This is not just an economic objective but about positioning India as a trusted and credible contributor to global peace and stability.
Equally important is India’s embrace of cutting-edge technologies that are redefining global defence frontiers. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving faster and more accurate decision-making in command centres, while advanced materials such as meta-alloys and graphene composites are making weapon systems lighter and more resilient. Electronic warfare systems, including cyber-resilient radars and spectrum-dominant platforms, are becoming indispensable to protecting Indian assets in hostile environments. By investing in these technologies, India can leapfrog legacy constraints and shape a new paradigm of deterrence and defence dominance.
The proposed National Defence Technology and Innovation Framework (NDTIF), if established with strong inter-institutional governance, can anchor India’s technological leap. It can drive breakthroughs in emerging domains such as semiconductors, electronic warfare and AI applications in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, which are increasingly shaping modern battlefield awareness and response cycles.
The private sector must now ask itself a different question: not “how can we compete for contracts?” but “how can we co-create a strategic capacity for the nation?” The answer lies in deeper, longer-term investments in capability building. Corporates must shift from transactional roles to becoming strategic enablers - investing in dual-use infrastructure, co-developing IP with research bodies, and funding high-risk innovation. It means building integrated supply chains, mentoring start-ups, investing in R&D and advancing future-ready talent.
