Subhechcha Ganguly 
As China continues to bolster Pakistan’s military with cutting-edge hardware, the urgency for India to modernize its defence capabilities has never been greater. The Modi government must now impose strict timelines and enforce accountability on the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and defence public sector undertakings (PSUs), ensuring they deliver critical technologies without delay.
It has been 26 years since the Indian Army deployed Israeli-built Searcher Mark I and II drones for reconnaissance during the Kargil War. At the same time, the US was already testing the armed version of its MQ-1 Predator drone in Yugoslavia in 1995. Fast forward to today, India is set to acquire its first batch of 31 Predator MQ-9B drones from the US only in 2028—meanwhile, China has already developed and exported the advanced Wing Loong II armed drone to Pakistan.
Given India’s volatile neighbourhood and the looming threat of terrorism, the country cannot afford complacency in defence preparedness. The armed forces must remain combat-ready, and cannot be expected to wait indefinitely for the public sector to conceptualize, test, and induct key systems.
Critical areas still lagging include beyond visual range (BVR) missiles for Prachand attack helicopters, shoulder-fired and air-launched anti-tank guided missiles, indigenous aircraft engines, and long-range surface-to-air missiles. These gaps highlight the limitations of relying solely on state-run entities, and reinforce the need for robust public-private collaboration in defence manufacturing.
India must move away from an outdated socialist approach within its defence establishment. The model followed by the US—where the government supported its defence industry through R&D funding and large-scale procurement in the 1960s—offers valuable lessons. Likewise, public sector units in countries like Israel and France have set benchmarks in timely and effective delivery, proving that efficiency and state ownership can coexist with accountability.
The Modi government must now demand the same level of performance from India’s defence PSUs. If they fail to deliver within set timelines, it’s time they make way for private players ready to step up and secure the nation’s strategic interests.
