India’s defence modernisation has often followed when there has been some trauma or disturbance. For example, the India-China war in 1962 forced New Delhi to confront uncomfortable truths about preparedness, doctrine, and political complacency. The results were visible within a decade: a rearmed, reorganised Indian force that prevailed against Pakistan in 1965 and decisively in the 1971 war, despite Islamabad’s backing from Washington and much of the Islamic world. Post Kargil war, India went from strength to strength to advance into their high-altitude warfare capabilities and also develop strengths to fight a hybrid war situation.

History often repeats itself, though today it does so through technology rather than traditional battles. The terrorist attack in Pahalgam and India’s response through Operation Sindoor did not lead to a full-scale war. Instead, it led to a major change that was already underway, a transformation of India’s defence thinking, military preparedness and defence manufacturing. Since then, New Delhi has moved unusually fast in 2025 to strengthen its armed forces on land, at sea, in the air, and in newer areas such as cyber and space. The focus is no longer on past wars, but on future conflicts that may involve a mix of conventional fighting, cyber-attacks, terrorism, and information warfare.

India’s security challenges are now far more complicated. China and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed, remain adversaries. Modern conflicts increasingly involve cyber-attacks, fake news, economic pressure, and proxy terrorism. At the same time, political instability in Bangladesh, growing anti-India voices, and Nepal’s closer engagement with China have added pressure along India’s eastern and northern borders. In this situation, upgrading the military is no longer optional; it is crucial and essential.

India’s military strength once depended largely on the number of soldiers. That advantage is slowly fading. Today, technology matters more than sheer numbers. Recognising this, India is shifting towards faster, more precise, and controlled automated weapons and systems. One of the biggest strengths of India today is its indigenous missile development.........

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