Months after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has unveiled India’s biggest defence upgrade plan since Independence. The Defence Ministry has prepared a 15-year roadmap during which India’s armed forces will be transformed through the infusion of billions of dollars and cutting-edge technology.
This roadmap, includes the addition of nuclear-powered warships, next-generation battle tanks, hypersonic missiles, stealth bomber drones, AI-powered weapons, and space-based warfare technology to India’s arsenal.
According to this path-breaking vision document, the Army will induct nearly 1,800 future tanks to replace the T-72 fleet, 400 light tanks for mountain warfare, 50,000 tank-mounted anti-tank guided missiles, and over 700 robotic counter-IED systems.
The Navy will get a new aircraft carrier, 10 next-generation frigates, 7 advanced corvettes, and 4 landing dock platforms. Nuclear propulsion for warships has been greenlit, as well as electromagnetic aircraft launch systems.
The Air Force will acquire 75 high-altitude pseudo-satellites, 150 stealth bomber drones, hundreds of precision-guided munitions, and over 100 remotely piloted aircraft.
This is a blueprint for a future-ready force, emphasising AI, autonomy, and space warfare and will be India’s answer to 21st-century threats.
This roadmap, includes the addition of nuclear-powered warships, next-generation battle tanks, hypersonic missiles, stealth bomber drones, AI-powered weapons, and space-based warfare technology to India’s arsenal
As part of the plan announced by India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), it also includes the use of Indian-made fighter jets by the navy for the first time. Further, India could build its third aircraft carrier, to be nuclear-powered.
Bordered by strategic rivals China and Pakistan, both of whom India has clashed with in deadly fights in recent years, New Delhi is increasingly leaning on domestic defence companies to bolster capabilities and cut dependence on foreign suppliers such as Russia, France, and the United States.
The Reuters reported that, “As the nation stands on the threshold of embracing greater challenges and responsibilities in the forthcoming decades, it is but imperative that the Services be equipped accordingly,” said the defence ministry’s 2025 roadmap. “Greater private-public sector partnership is thus the road ahead.”
India currently operates two aircraft carriers, one of Russian origin and the other home-built. The proposed carrier is expected to be nuclear-powered, a first for India, for longer reach and stealthier operations.
The document outlines the need for at least 10 nuclear propulsion systems to support the carrier and other future warships, underscoring India’s ambition to expand its strategic reach across the Indian Ocean.
India also plans to induct an unspecified number of new-generation twin-engine, deck-based fighters and light combat aircraft, both being developed by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
In April, India signed a deal with France worth 630 billion rupees (about $8 billion) for 26 Rafale-Marine twin and single-seat jets, made by Dassault Aviation, to be deployed on its two carriers: INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The document outlines the need for at least 10 nuclear propulsion systems to support the carrier and other future warships, underscoring India’s ambition to expand its strategic reach across the Indian Ocean.
India hopes to have 62 Rafale jets in service by 2030, including 36 for the air force that started arriving in 2020. Currently, the carriers deploy a fleet of Soviet-origin MiG-29K.
The roadmap also places a big emphasis on drones that played a key role in the May military conflict with arch-enemy Pakistan.
The document outlines the need for at least 10 nuclear propulsion systems to support the carrier and other future warships, underscoring India’s ambition to expand its strategic reach across the Indian Ocean
A significant feature of the roadmap is the formation of dedicated drone teams within every Army unit to bolster drone warfare capabilities. According to the plan, the Army will acquire 100 reconnaissance drones similar to the American Guardian drones. The Air Force will receive 150 bomber drones over the next 15 years, supported by 75 small satellites designed to maintain drone communications at high altitudes.
Besides large drones, the plan also includes procurement of millions of small “suicide drones” — unmanned aerial vehicles carrying explosives intended to destroy targets upon impact. The effectiveness of such drones has been demonstrated in recent conflicts like the Ukraine war and India’s own Operation Sindoor.
An editorial by the magazine The Diplomat highlights India’s growing drone capabilities, noting that while India previously imported drones, it now boasts over 600 domestic companies producing various types of drones. The country is expected to manufacture indigenous bomber drones by 2026, joining a select group of nations with this advanced technology.
Alongside drones, the Defence Ministry plans to acquire 500 hypersonic missiles within 15 years, ultimately aiming to manufacture all domestically. An equal number of interceptor missiles will also be developed to counter enemy hypersonic threats. Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, distinguishing them from subsonic and supersonic missiles.
A significant feature of the roadmap is the formation of dedicated drone teams within every Army unit to bolster drone warfare capabilities. According to the plan, the Army will acquire 100 reconnaissance drones similar to the American Guardian drones. The Air Force will receive 150 bomber drones over the next 15 years, supported by 75 small satellites designed to maintain drone communications at high altitudes
The roadmap also emphasises the purchase of high-energy laser weapon systems for all three branches of the armed forces. These laser weapons use concentrated energy beams to destroy targets, primarily serving as air defence against drones and missiles.
After Operation Sindoor, claims surfaced that Indian Army used the DRDO-developed D-4 laser weapon system to neutralise Pakistani drones. Laser weapons are cost-effective compared to traditional air defence systems, costing roughly Rs 800-1,000 per target.
Globally, only ten countries possess laser weapon technology, and India is among them, demonstrating its mastery in this domain.
India has budgeted spending of about 6.81 trillion rupees ($77 billion) on defence this fiscal year. It is the world’s fourth biggest defence spender after the United States, China and Russia, according to World Bank data.
This roadmap is a path-breaking leap for India’s defence sector, signalling a shift toward indigenous technology integration and multi-domain superiority. The plan aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Implementation will require close collaboration between the MoD, armed forces, and the industry.
