Nuclear propulsion, AI, next-gen warfare: India's 15-year ambitious defence plan

The Defence Ministry has unveiled India’s 15-year defence plan, a comprehensive modernisation roadmap focusing on AI, hypersonic technology, and next-generation warfare, marking the country’s next major leap in military capabilities following Operation Sindoor.

The plan emphasises the integration of advanced indigenous technologies to strengthen future combat readiness. Key acquisitions under consideration include nuclear propulsion for naval vessels, next-generation tanks, and unmanned combat systems, according to the ministry.

The Army aims to procure over 1,800 main battle tanks, 400 light tanks, 600,000 artillery rounds, and a range of unmanned aerial systems.

The Navy’s priorities include one aircraft carrier, 10 next-generation destroyers, more than 10 landing platforms, and advanced helicopters.

The Air Force plans to acquire 20 stratospheric airships, 350 multi-mission drones, stealth UCAVs, high-power laser systems, and directed-energy weapons.

The roadmap also underscores the importance of cyber defence, satellite-based communications, electronic denial zones, and anti-swarm drone capabilities. Overall, the plan represents a decisive push to modernise India’s armed forces with an eye on future combat scenarios.

"Technology has always been employed to develop improved tools of warfare. Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented revolution in technologies. These advancements have ushered in the era of offensive cyber operations, autonomous unmanned systems, information dominance, space warfare, and other developments that have culminated in Effect-Based Operations (EBOs)," the Defence Ministry noted in its roadmap.

It added, "Rapid advances and convergence in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and information technology will continue to have a revolutionary impact on the battlefield of the future," also stressing, "As the nation stands on the threshold of embracing greater challenges and responsibilities in the coming decades, it is imperative that the Services be equipped accordingly."

The roadmap stresses that "greater private-public sector partnership is thus the road ahead".

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