- Designed for India, Built in India: The New Measure of Defence Capability
- Why India’s Defence Future Depends on Indigenous Readiness
By Vamsi Vikas Ganesula, Managing Director & Founder, Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group
New Delhi. 30 December 2025. India’s defence sector is standing at an important inflexion point. For many years, the country’s priority was to procure equipment quickly, from wherever it was available, to close immediate operational gaps. That approach served a purpose during periods when indigenous capability was still evolving. Today, however, the strategic environment around us demands something different. The armed forces are not just asking for new systems but for solutions that can be deployed quickly, trusted in real-world conditions, and supported reliably within the country. The conversation has shifted from procurement to capability, specifically the further development of capabilities that are designed, engineered, produced, and sustained in India. Indigenous systems are no longer long-term ambitions floating on policy documents; they have become day-to-day operational necessities for our military.
This shift is most visible in how the armed forces describe their needs. They want persistent situational awareness rather than sporadic information. They need systems that deliver precision effects without overwhelming the operator. They are looking for automation that reduces manpower load and removes unnecessary human risk in dangerous environments. Most importantly, the forces need equipment that can be trusted to function in every kind of Indian terrain, be it the freezing heights of the mountains, the harsh dust and heat of the deserts, or the forested regions where signals are unreliable and mobility is difficult. Reliability, maintainability, and field readiness are now as important as any feature or technical claim.
The modern understanding of “capability” has evolved accordingly. It is no longer defined purely by specifications in a document or performance during controlled demonstrations. Capability today is measured by how systems perform in unforgiving conditions and how easily they can be maintained or upgraded without waiting for external support. The armed forces value solutions that reduce operator workload and allow decision-makers to act quickly with clarity. A capable system is one that a soldier trusts because it works every time it is needed, not just when conditions are ideal. It is also one that can be serviced locally, with parts and expertise available without long lead times. In other words, capability is becoming inseparable from indigenisation because operational confidence cannot be built on foreign supply chains alone.
Several areas clearly require a stronger domestic focus. Tactical UAVs are a prime example. India’s mission requirements demand UAVs that can stay in the air longer, climb higher, and operate with propulsion systems that cope with both extreme cold and extreme heat. Imported designs rarely account for these conditions because they are built for other geographies. Loitering munitions and precision-strike platforms are another category where India must build for its own mission profiles, not simply adapt what works elsewhere. High-speed aerial targets are urgently needed for realistic weapons training and evaluation, and these must be locally designed to accurately represent emerging threats. Ground robotics, whether for logistics, load carrying, or hazardous operations, is becoming essential as terrains get tougher and missions get more complex. The rapid expansion of drone use globally has also made it clear that India needs counter-UAS systems that are field-ready, scalable, adaptable, and capable of evolving as threats evolve.
It is encouraging to see that the Indian industry has begun responding seriously to these needs. The earlier era, when many domestic companies focused only on assembly or build-to-print work, is steadily giving way to an engineering-driven generation of firms. This new wave is investing in propulsion, autonomy, high-integrity electronics, advanced manufacturing, and complex mechanical systems. Across the country, integrated ecosystems are emerging where design teams, test facilities, and production lines are placed under one roof. This allows development cycles to move faster and ensures that improvements suggested during testing can be incorporated immediately. Crucially, it allows companies to move beyond prototyping, where India remained stuck for many years and into full production of systems that are robust, repeatable, and ready for deployment.
We have aligned ourselves closely with these national priorities. Our approach has always been to focus on areas where the armed forces see the greatest need. For us, that has meant investing deeply in propulsion technologies, unmanned systems, and mission-critical mechanical and electronic subsystems. We have deliberately chosen to work on the hardest parts of the problem, not the easiest. These are areas where reliability is non-negotiable because a failure can jeopardise both missions and lives. Our facilities have been built to support integrated development from design benches to environmental testing to scalable manufacturing. What guides us is a simple but firm belief: India cannot achieve credible self-reliance unless its industry builds solutions that are not only innovative but also dependable day after day in the environments where they will actually be used.
From a leadership standpoint, capability cannot be built through declarations or timelines alone. It requires rigour, discipline, and a respect for engineering fundamentals. True capability is created through long cycles of testing, failure, improvement, and repeated validation. It is built by teams that are encouraged to focus on reliability rather than short-term optics and by organisations willing to invest in foundational technologies that take time to mature. Propulsion, automation, guidance, advanced materials, and high-assurance systems must be developed continuously, not occasionally. As industry leaders, our responsibility is not simply to deliver products; it is to ensure that the systems we introduce into service are ones the country can depend on for the next decade and beyond.
Looking ahead, the direction is clear. India’s defence strength in the years to come will rest heavily on indigenous and autonomous systems built for our own operational realities. For this to happen at the pace required, the services, research bodies, and industry must work together in a more continuous and integrated manner. We have made important progress, but the next phase will demand an even closer alignment between what the user needs and what the industry can deliver. Ultimately, India’s readiness and strategic confidence will depend on how well we develop capability where it truly counts, within the core technologies that underpin modern defence.
