New Delhi: At The Hindu Semiconductor Summit, scientists called for India to develop the ability to design, manufacture, package and test chips for defence applications. VK Saraswat, A Sivathanu Pillai and Deleep Nair warned that dependence on imported chips could leave network-centric weapons vulnerable. They also cautioned against waiting until 2030-35 to develop advanced-node capabilities, arguing that the country needs to act sooner.
The appeal reflects a strategic concern: modern military systems increasingly depend on semiconductors to process information, connect platforms and support sensors, communications and electronic warfare. Chips sit inside radar systems, satellites, aircraft, missiles, unmanned platforms and command networks. A disruption in access to components-or uncertainty about their security and supply-can therefore affect more than manufacturing schedules. It can constrain the operation, maintenance and upgrading of defence equipment.
An end-to-end domestic capability would extend beyond setting up fabrication plants. It would encompass chip design, manufacturing, assembly, packaging and testing, alongside access to specialist materials, equipment, software and skilled workers. Developing each link is difficult, but gaps in any one can leave domestic manufacturers reliant on overseas suppliers for essential inputs or processes. India’s semiconductor expansion is, therefore, a question of building a connected industrial ecosystem, not simply producing wafers.
The scientists’ warning echoes a broader policy push for defence self-reliance. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at a September defence summit that India should reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, from semiconductor chips and small components to complete weapon systems. He argued that control over critical technologies and domestic production would support strategic autonomy
The urgency is heightened by the concentration of semiconductor manufacturing and expertise in a limited number of countries. A separate analysis of India’s semiconductor sector describes imported components as a potential vulnerability amid geopolitical competition, supply-chain disruption and technological restrictions. For defence users, the challenge is not only whether chips can be sourced today, but whether supply remains assured throughout the lifespan of a system.
India has made semiconductor development a national priority through its manufacturing and design programmes. The government’s Semicon India initiative supports a domestic ecosystem, while its broader policy approach includes chip design, fabrication, assembly and packaging. These efforts can create a foundation for defence applications, but commercial semiconductor capacity and military-grade chips are not interchangeable by default. Defence systems may require components designed for demanding operating conditions, long service lives and stringent reliability and security requirements.
That distinction creates a practical challenge for policymakers and industry. Defence buyers need dependable components that meet system-specific standards, while chipmakers need predictable demand, access to technology and investment in costly facilities. Closer coordination among defence research agencies, manufacturers, universities and semiconductor firms could help translate military requirements into designs and production plans. Long-term procurement commitments may also give domestic suppliers greater confidence to invest.
The summit’s call for an end-to-end approach also raises a question of sequencing. Building every capability at once would be ambitious; concentrating only on the most advanced chips could leave other critical needs unaddressed. India could pursue near-term production and trusted supply for defence-relevant components while building research, design and manufacturing expertise for more advanced technologies. The scientists’ warning, as reported, is that postponing the effort until advanced nodes arrive risks leaving defence programmes exposed in the meantime.
The goal is not simply to replace every imported chip immediately. It is to ensure that India can develop and sustain the components most important to its defence systems, reduce exposure to supply disruptions and retain the ability to upgrade platforms. Achieving that will require sustained investment and coordination across the semiconductor chain. The scientists’ message was clear: for defence chips, domestic capability must extend from design through production and testing-not stop at ambition.
