Tech Desk: India’s strategic independence and military prowess are critically exposed by its reliance on foreign semiconductors, warn top defence experts. Advanced platforms like the BrahMos missile, Tejas MK-2 fighter, and the ambitious Sudarshan Chakra air defence shield face severe vulnerabilities without robust India Indigenous Chip Production. The Semiconductor Summit 2026 highlighted that modern network-centric warfare demands a domestically controlled chip ecosystem to prevent sabotage and supply-chain disruptions.

DRDO’s Dr. VK Saraswat emphasized that battlefield success, as seen in Operation Sindoor, depends entirely on microchip-powered intelligence and communication networks. The AI-enabled Sudarshan Chakra, integrating multi-domain data by 2035, intensifies this demand, making imported chips a critical risk. Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai of BrahMos Aerospace noted even Chandrayaan-3 relied on foreign processors, stressing the precision of BrahMos and the data processing needs of Tejas MK-2 depend on advanced chips.

A significant technology gap looms, with India’s defence systems largely on 28nm chips while global leaders advance to 3nm. Experts caution that waiting until 2030-2035 for 3nm capability is too late. Despite past setbacks like the SCL fire, progress is visible: Tata-PSMC aims for 28-110nm chips by December 2026, and DRDO’s GAETEC focuses on compound semiconductors.

To secure the nation, a comprehensive end-to-end India Indigenous Chip Production ecosystem is vital, encompassing design, fabrication, equipment, and critical raw mineral stockpiling. Establishing university research centers is also crucial to cultivate the next generation of skilled workforce for military technology.