Business · India Bureau
India must develop defence semiconductors domestically, experts warn
Leading defence scientists have called for India to establish end-to-end domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities to protect network-centric weapons systems from vulnerability. The experts cautioned that relying on imported chips poses security risks that could undermine the country's military modernisation efforts.
LSN India ·
At The Hindu Semiconductor Summit, prominent defence and technology figures emphasised the critical need for indigenous chip development tailored to India's strategic requirements. V.K. Saraswat, A. Sivathanu Pillai and Deleep Nair highlighted that dependence on imported semiconductors creates vulnerabilities in network-centric warfare systems, which have become central to modern military operations.
The scientists warned that delaying indigenous capability development until 2030-35 to achieve advanced semiconductor nodes would leave India's defence infrastructure exposed during a crucial period of technological advancement. They stressed that self-reliance in semiconductor design and manufacturing is essential for maintaining operational security and strategic autonomy in defence systems.
Their remarks underscore growing concerns among India's defence establishment about supply chain vulnerabilities and the geopolitical risks associated with importing critical components for military applications. The comments reflect broader efforts within India's defence and technology sectors to reduce external dependencies and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The push for indigenous semiconductor development aligns with India's broader Make in India initiative and efforts to establish a competitive domestic chip manufacturing ecosystem. Industry analysts note that building such capabilities requires sustained investment in research, infrastructure, and skilled workforce development across design, fabrication, and testing domains.