Defence Technology

The IAF and the IIT Bombay agreement to develop an indigenous, AI-driven maintenance model for the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft is a meaningful step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

India’s defence-industrial technological progress must be matched by mature communication strategies, production reliability and global engagement.

India must work across the semiconductor value chain to achieve self-reliance, with particular focus on materials and skilled workforce.

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India–US defence cooperation has grown significantly, driven by shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region. However, technology transfer remains problematic due to India’s focus on strategic autonomy and US concerns over intellectual property and export controls. This article investigates the same within the context of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), exploring how technology transfer concerns affect joint defence efforts and the development of advanced military system. It also examines US regulatory restrictions, such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and their impact on technology sharing. Additionally, the article considers India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, which sometimes conflict with US technology protection expectations. The article suggests solutions, including flexible bilateral agreements and enhanced trust-building, to balance strategic partnerships with national sovereignty, aiming to resolve technology transfer issues and maximise the potential of India–US defence collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

The P-75I programme can be regarded as an inflection point for strengthening India’s defence industrial ecosystem for achieving ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in submarine technology.

The academia can play a major role by bridging innovation gaps and scaling critical technologies.

India's pursuit of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology is a multi-faceted endeavour, requiring strategic vision, robust collaboration, sustained investment and a commitment to innovation.

The launch of the ADITI Scheme reflects the government’s commitment to promote innovations in defence technologies by Indian start-ups for the armed forces.

Military organisations worldwide have steadily increased reliance on space assets for communications, surveillance, and navigation. India has sufficient space capability as compared to China.