1 week ago
India’s Defence Push Must Advance From Production To Technology
India is making more weapons inside the country than before.
It also exported a record amount of defence equipment.
But making a weapon is not the same as inventing all the important technology inside it.
India still needs stronger abilities in areas such as engines, sensors, computer chips, software and artificial intelligence.
These technologies help weapons see, communicate and work accurately.
Drones, satellites and electronic warfare are becoming very important in modern conflicts.
The article says India should connect the military with universities, start-ups and companies.
It also needs better testing, funding and purchasing systems so new ideas can become useful equipment.
The main goal is for India to design, improve and maintain the technologies behind its weapons.
India’s defence production reached ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, while exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore.
The government aims to raise defence production to ₹3 lakh crore and exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
The article argues that assembling weapons or producing them under licence does not guarantee technological sovereignty.
India is urged to prioritise propulsion, semiconductors, electronic warfare, secure communications, autonomous systems and space surveillance.
The next phase of self-reliance requires stronger links among the armed forces, universities, start-ups and established industry.
- Who
- The Indian government, armed forces, universities, start-ups and defence companies are central to the proposed transition.
- What
- India is being urged to move from manufacturing defence platforms to mastering the critical technologies behind them.
- Where
- The effort concerns India’s domestic defence and technology ecosystem.
- When
- Defence production figures cited cover 2025-26, and the government’s targets are set for 2029.
- Why
- Greater control over critical technologies would reduce strategic dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen military autonomy.
Key facts
- Defence production
- ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26
- Defence exports
- ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26
- Production target
- ₹3 lakh crore by 2029
- Export target
- ₹50,000 crore by 2029
- Priority technologies
- Propulsion, advanced semiconductors, electronic warfare, secure communications, autonomous systems, underwater technologies and space-based surveillance
- Innovation mechanisms
- Innovations for Defence Excellence and government technology-development programmes
- Core proposal
- Measure self-reliance by control of intellectual property, critical components and technological ecosystems, not only domestic manufacturing









