- ” From Deep-Tech to Space Power: Innovation and Indigenisation Will Define India’s Global Leadership
Bengaluru, 26th September 2025: “We need to have reforms in India’s approach to defence innovation. The nation can deliver far more advanced solutions than it currently does with world-class infrastructure, challenging assignments, and competitive compensation. With these in place, India can secure its place as a global defence leader by 2047. There is also a need to attract and retain top technocrats, including IIT and NIT gold medalists,” said Mr Manoj Jain, Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Ltd., while delivering the inaugural address of the CII AeroDef Tech Summit 2025 in Bengaluru. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Southern Region (CII-SR) the theme was “Defining Tomorrow: Tech-Driven Defence for a Developed India”.
Mr Jain also underscored the necessity of scaling up investments in deep-tech startups and defence R&D. “While current funding schemes such as the Government’s ?25 crore Aatmanirbhar initiatives are commendable, developing deployable high-end technologies demands far larger commitments of ?100 crore and beyond with the acceptance that only a fraction may succeed.”
Air Vice Marshal Prem Kumar, VM, VSM, Commandant, Weapons System School & Command Flying Training Officer, in his special address described the theme as both timely and transformative. Tracing lessons from India’s past from the Mughal mastery of gunpowder to British naval superiority, he underlined how neglecting military technology historically imperiled sovereignty.
Air Vice Marshal Prem Kumar stressed that air dominance determines the tempo of war, enabling rapid deployment and precision strikes, while space and cyber capabilities form critical layers of deterrence.
Mr Sandeep Nanduri, IAS, Managing Director, TIDCO, in his keynote address showcased Tamil Nadu’s emergence as India’s most industrialised state and a powerhouse across sectors including automobiles, electronics, and renewable energy. “With a GSDP of nearly USD 370 billion and double-digit growth at 11.19% this year, Tamil Nadu has consistently led the nation in exports, ranking number one in electronics for three consecutive years”.
He highlighted Tamil Nadu’s leadership in EV manufacturing accounting for 66% of India’s electric two-wheeler output and its pioneering role as a Defence Corridor since 2019, where over ?20,000 crore worth of MoUs have already been signed, attracting ?5,000 crore in investments.
Mr Arun T Ramchandani, Summit Chairman & SVP & Head – Precision Engineering and Systems, Larsen & Toubro Limited in his theme address said, “India’s defence sector has entered a period of unprecedented growth, driven by a strong policy push towards indigenisation and self-reliance with Defence production touching a record ?1.5 trillion in FY24-25, while exports have risen to nearly ?25,000 crores, reaching over 100 nations.”
“Our national aspiration is to reach ?3 trillion in defence production and ?50,000 crores in exports by 2029. This trajectory is being shaped by over 15,000 MSMEs, thriving defence corridors, and fresh investments in deep-tech R&D, signalling India’s determination to build a resilient, globally competitive ecosystem,” he added.
Mr Rabindra Shrikantan, Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council and Managing Director, ASM Technologies, highlighted Karnataka’s pivotal role as the nation’s aerospace and defence hub, accounting for 67% of all aircraft and helicopters manufactured for India’s defence services and contributing to over 65% of the country’s exports in this sector.
The other sessions held at the CII AeroDef Tech Summit 2025 were: The Big Picture: Way Ahead for Aerospace & Defence Sector, Emerging Technologies in Aerospace & Defence, Atmanirbharta – Policy and Indigenisation in Defence, Production & Innovation Ecosystem, Cybersecurity in Aerospace and Defence and Redefining the Final Frontier: Enhancing Space Capabilities.
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