India on Friday unveiled an ambitious 15-year defense roadmap that sets out the country’s most sweeping military modernization plan to date, with major investments planned in nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, hypersonic missiles, stealth combat drones, and advanced cyber and space-based systems.
The roadmap, released by the Defense Ministry, is the first long-term strategy of its kind to explicitly call for nuclear propulsion for surface warships, including the construction of India’s third aircraft carrier powered by nuclear reactors. Officials and analysts say the move is intended to significantly extend India’s operational reach in the Indian Ocean, where competition with China has intensified in recent years. The carrier would be supported by the first generation of indigenous twin-engine deck-based fighter jets, currently under development by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency. The TEDBF jets are expected to serve alongside the ordered Rafale-M carrier-based aircraft. Apart from the carrier, the roadmap includes the acquisition of 10 next-generation destroyers, 10 landing platforms, and advanced helicopters.
According to Reuters, the roadmap reflects India's vision of self-reliance in defense manufacturing, under the government’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives. It calls for a stronger role for domestic private industry and deeper partnerships between state-owned defense firms, startups, and academia.
Beyond naval expansion, the roadmap highlights India’s determination to acquire next-generation weapons across all domains. It is reported that the plan calls for the induction of over 1,800 main battle tanks, 400 light tanks, and thousands of artillery systems, underscoring the army’s continued focus on land warfare preparedness. For the air domain, the blueprint includes stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), swarming drones, and high-altitude long-endurance UAVs, alongside the development of hypersonic cruise missiles and directed-energy weapons such as high-powered lasers. The numbers say that India plans to acquire 500 hypersonic missiles, 150 UCAVs, 87 MALE drones, and 350+ multi-mission drones, while entailing a much higher total tally of other types of aerial systems.
The roadmap emphasizes building a robust cyber defense framework for military assets and calls for the establishment of a full-fledged Space Command within the next decade. The plan also reportedly includes equipping soldiers with advanced gear such as exoskeletons, AI-powered helmets, and smart armor to improve performance and battlefield awareness, aligning with the previous declaration that 2025 was the 'Year of Reforms' by the MoD.
News outlets noted that the roadmap also envisions AI-driven battlefield management, stratospheric airships for surveillance, and a nationwide drone and anti-drone architecture to counter the growing use of unmanned systems in modern warfare. Senior officials described the document as a “technology-driven military transformation” that positions India to fight in “multi-domain environments” that blend space, cyber, air, sea, and land.
The plan comes at a time of rising regional insecurity. China is expanding its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and has rapidly grown its stealth fighter fleet, with around 200 J-20s reportedly in service and production rates nearing 50-100 aircraft per year. Meanwhile, Pakistan has shown interest in acquiring fifth-generation fighters and long-range precision systems, raising concerns in New Delhi about a two-front challenge. Analysts cited by Reuters suggested that India’s roadmap is as much about deterring adversaries as it is about projecting power.
In recent years, India has sought to diversify its arms imports. Russia still accounted for 36% of India’s defense purchases between 2020 and 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), but New Delhi has steadily expanded acquisitions from France (33%) and Israel (13%). The new roadmap indicates a deliberate shift toward domestic production of key platforms, aiming to reduce strategic vulnerabilities from external suppliers while retaining strong partnerships with multiple nations.
The push for indigenous production has not been without challenges. India’s track record in defense manufacturing has faced criticism for delays and cost overruns. However, the government remains committed to its “Make in India” initiative, aiming to build a robust domestic defense industry capable of meeting the country’s growing security needs. While the 2025–26 defense budget increased by 9.5%, a significant portion is allocated to salaries and pensions rather than capital outlay for new equipment. Analysts have noted that while this new roadmap shows clear ambition, insufficient funding for modernization and persistent delays in indigenous projects could present hurdles to its full implementation
The 15-year roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy for modernizing India’s armed forces, focusing on technological advancements and self-reliance. By investing in nuclear-powered warships, hypersonic missiles, AI-driven systems, and other cutting-edge technologies, India aims to enhance its defense capabilities and assert its position as a regional power in the evolving security landscape.
As India embarks on this ambitious journey, the success of the roadmap will depend on effective implementation, timely delivery of projects, and the ability to foster innovation within the domestic defense sector. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether India can transform its defense aspirations into tangible capabilities that ensure national security and strategic autonomy.
Citations: Reuters, Times of India, India Today, The Economic Times, The Hindu, Business Today, MSN
