Gen Dwivedi calls for collabs in Defence innovation to shape future warfighting capabilities
New Delhi, Nov 04: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday underscored the importance of collaborative defence innovation, asserting that “no nation stands secure alone” in an era of rapidly evolving security challenges.
Delivering the keynote address at the India Defence Conclave 2025, Gen Dwivedi said India’s “two-and-a-half front challenge” and the empowerment following Operation Sindoor have given the armed forces greater flexibility for “spiral development and induction.”
Addressing an audience comprising senior military officers, defence experts and industry leaders, the Army Chief highlighted the transforming nature of warfare, urging sustained investment in research, development and emerging technologies to strengthen national defence.
“The future of warfighting will not be defined by any single domain or doctrine, but by how decisively we convert ideas into enduring capabilities,” he said.
“The journey from concept to capability is a journey from dependence to dominance — from preparing for the future to possessing it.”
Gen Dwivedi described strategic partnerships as a “bridge of opportunity,” stating that while research and development determine what can be created, partnerships expand what can be accessed.
“Certain technologies will never come to us on a platter. We must collaborate on the basis of shared benefits and local control,” he noted, citing BrahMos and K9 Vajra as models of successful cooperation.
Emphasising the importance of achieving the “zero-to-one” phase in indigenous R&D, he said once a breakthrough is achieved, replication and upgradation become far easier. “That ‘zero-to-one’ leap is what we need to focus on,” he added.
The Army Chief also spoke of harnessing dual-use technologies and adapting techniques, tactics and procedures to meet emerging challenges. Drone warfare, he said, is a live example of this convergence.
“We are deeply engaged with national technology missions on quantum, space and 6G. As a military, we believe that for us to succeed, we must help others succeed — that is how ‘2+2’ becomes ‘22’ in a collaborative ecosystem,” he said.
Calling military-civil fusion the “anchor at home” and academia-industry-military partnership the “troika of transformation,” Gen Dwivedi said these linkages would shape the future of India’s defence innovation landscape.
Referring to the impact of Operation Sindoor, he said post-operation empowerment, including financial autonomy, had enabled the Army to pursue flexible development and rapid induction of indigenous systems.
He urged the industry to invest in AI, cyber, quantum, unmanned systems, space and advanced materials, not only to meet operational needs but also to fuel India’s defence manufacturing and export growth. “The results are already visible in indigenous systems such as Akash Air Defence, ATAGS artillery guns, and the Light Tank Zorawar,” he said.
Gen Dwivedi also revealed that the Army is working towards automation and man-unmanned teaming, to enhance efficiency without expanding manpower. “Our aim is to make the same manpower 1.5 to 2 times more effective through smarter technology,” he said.
He stressed that closing the R&D gap is vital if India is to design and deliver cutting-edge capabilities. “Academia must innovate, industry must incubate, and the military must imbibe,” he said.
Describing modern warfare as “fluid, diffused and pervasive”, he asserted that despite its changing nature, “land remains the currency of victory.”
“Wars keep changing in form. The challenge now is how militaries can translate evolving ideas into real warfighting capabilities,” he said, concluding that this process demands thought, technology and tenacity — the Army’s guiding “3Ts.”
