The Defence Ministry has rolled out an ambitious 15-year roadmap to modernise India’s armed forces, aiming to strengthen national security and ensure future combat readiness in the face of rapidly evolving global threats. The plan, unveiled just months after the high-profile Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, highlights a decisive push towards advanced indigenous technologies such as artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons, cyber defence systems, and next-generation unmanned platforms.
The Army’s priorities under this roadmap include the procurement of over 1,800 main battle tanks, 400 light tanks, 600,000 artillery rounds, and various categories of unmanned aerial systems. The Navy is set to expand its capabilities with one new aircraft carrier, 10 next-generation destroyers, more than 10 landing platforms, and advanced helicopters, in addition to exploring nuclear propulsion for naval vessels. The Air Force has laid out a futuristic vision, planning to acquire 20 stratospheric airships, 350 multi-mission drones, stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), high-power laser systems, and directed-energy weapons to bolster its aerial superiority.
The roadmap places strong emphasis on non-traditional domains of warfare, particularly cyber defence, satellite-based communications, anti-swarm drone systems, electronic denial zones, and space warfare. The ministry noted that technological revolutions in robotics, AI, and IT are transforming warfare into Effect-Based Operations (EBOs), where dominance in information, cyberspace, and automation will decide the outcome of conflicts.
Acknowledging the need for robust domestic defence production, the plan underscores public-private collaboration and urges the Indian industry to align with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. It envisions greater reliance on indigenous systems and the development of domestic manufacturing capacity to reduce dependence on imports while creating a globally competitive defence ecosystem.
The ministry also linked the roadmap to the strategic lessons of Operation Sindoor, conducted on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Officials emphasised that the successful tri-service operation demonstrated India’s growing capacity for high-precision, coordinated strikes across land, air, and sea. They stressed that this capability was the result of sustained investments in defence preparedness, guided policy direction, and steady budgetary support over the years.
By laying out a comprehensive plan covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, the Defence Ministry’s 15-year vision aims to not only modernise the armed forces but also position India as a future-ready military power, capable of meeting challenges in an increasingly complex global security environment.
