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NEW DELHI: India is set to intensify its focus on self-reliance, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems as key pillars of its defence strategy over the next decade, according to experts and industry leaders speaking at a roundtable during the NXT Conclave 2026.
The discussion highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, the importance of technological sovereignty and the growing role of innovation in shaping the future of the defence sector.
The panel featured Pankaj Chadha, M. D. Reddy, Smit Shah and Stephen M. Maurer. Opening the discussion, Maurer, an emeritus adjunct professor of public policy at University of California, Berkeley, reflected on global lessons from Europe and the limitations of relying heavily on defence alliances. “Europe’s reliance on defence alliances has shown its limitations. While the continent has the resources to mobilise, conflicts often arrive before planning is complete,” he said, adding that this should serve as a cautionary lesson for nations dependent on external security arrangements. Echoing this view, Chadha, representing Larsen & Toubro, said India must focus on developing sovereign capabilities in defence manufacturing. “The era we are entering is defined by self-sustaining defence. Europe’s shift toward self-sufficiency after the Ukraine war shows that every country, including India, must strengthen its independent defence capabilities,” he said.
The discussion then turned to the challenges of indigenisation. Reddy of Astra Microwave Products Limited said achieving full localisation in defence manufacturing remains ambitious but attainable with sustained government support. “Achieving 100 percent indigenisation is aspirational. Raw material constraints, particularly in semiconductors, make it difficult. Today, we are around 40 percent localised, and with government support in setting up foundries, we hope to achieve 80 to 90 percent over the next decade,” he said.
Reddy also noted that artificial intelligence would play a critical role in improving manufacturing efficiency as well as operational decision-making in the defence sector. Highlighting the future battlefield, Shah of the Drone Federation of India said autonomous systems are set to redefine warfare. “Future wars will be contactless, AI-driven and fully autonomous. Drone swarms will operate across aerial, surface and underwater domains, with human operators giving high-level instructions,” Shah said. “AI will not just assist but execute missions with precision, drastically reducing human error.” The panel also stressed the strategic importance of space as a growing area of geopolitical competition.
“Space is becoming a contested domain. Countries are developing measures to jam or destroy satellites. Future conflicts could extend to orbital control, making space a critical theatre for national security,” Reddy warned.
Concluding the session, Maurer urged India to prioritise original innovation rather than simply replicating existing technologies. “Defence innovation should focus on solving new problems rather than copying existing technologies,” he said, adding that Indian companies should leverage emerging technologies to leapfrog in artificial intelligence, drones and advanced defence systems.
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