Daily Defense Updates: Modernization of the Indian Navy and Progress in Defense Innovation

Key Chapter Title List

1. Indigenous Warship Or Submarine Every 40 Days
2. India’s First 3D-Printed Mobile Drone
3. PM Modi Unveils ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Mega Fund
4. Thales to Station Permanent Representative At Ambala Air Base
5. India, Israel Ink Major Defence Pact
6. REVIEW QUESTIONS

Document Overview

This report compiles a series of key developments in India's defense and security sector from early November 2025, systematically presenting the country's latest progress and strategic orientation in military modernization, technological self-reliant innovation, and international defense cooperation. The report covers multiple dimensions including naval construction, cutting-edge technology application, national-level R&D investment, and the deepening of bilateral defense relations, providing a fact-based assessment foundation for analyzing the evolution of India's defense industrial capabilities and its regional strategic intentions.

The report first reveals the significant pace of the Indian Navy's accelerated indigenous fleet construction. According to disclosures by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, the Indian Navy is expanding its fleet at a rate of receiving approximately one indigenously built warship or submarine every 40 days. This pace serves its long-term goal of increasing the total number of vessels from about 145 to over 200 by 2035, and profoundly reflects the advancement of the "Atmanirbharta" (self-reliance) defense strategy. All current orders for 52 vessels under construction are being built by Indian shipyards, marking an enhancement of its shipbuilding industrial capability. Simultaneously, India plans to extend indigenization to the component level, aiming to build a completely self-reliant maritime force by 2047. Over the past decade, India's defense production value has grown more than threefold, recently surpassing ₹1.5 trillion, providing solid domestic industrial support for naval expansion. Its strategic focus is shifting from "Make in India" to "Trust India."

At the level of technological innovation, the report highlights the advent of India's first 3D-printed mobile drone assembly unit. This is the result of a collaboration between Chennai-based Zuppa and Divide By Zero from Navi Mumbai, marking a significant breakthrough for India in integrating autonomous systems, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence capabilities within the concept of deployable battlefield infrastructure. The unit can print drone airframes and critical components using industrial-grade additive manufacturing technology and complete assembly via an autonomous drone platform integrated with an AI control system, forming mission-ready drones. This model aligns with the global trend of distributed, flexible defense manufacturing, similar to recent initiatives by the US's Firestorm Labs, aiming to reshape battlefield logistics and drone replenishment strategies.

Strategic investment at the national level is equally noteworthy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the ₹1 lakh crore R&D and Innovation Fund at the 2025 Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference in New Delhi. This is one of India's most ambitious national investments in scientific research and future technologies, aiming to position India as a global power in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, advanced semiconductors, space systems, defense technologies, and sustainable energy. The fund will operate in a cluster mode, supporting public-private partnership projects among universities, laboratories, space agencies, and defense technology centers.

Regarding international defense cooperation, the report analyzes two key developments. First, French defense giant Thales will station a permanent representative at the Indian Air Force's Ambala Air Base, which hosts India's first squadron of Rafale fighter jets. This move aims to provide maintenance and technical support for the Rafale's avionics, radar, and sensor systems, formally establishing Thales's long-term commitment within the framework of sustained support and performance-based logistics for India's Rafale fleet. This ensures the Rafale fleet's uninterrupted operational availability, reflects the aircraft's high dependence on proprietary French electronic systems, and may provide learning opportunities for Indian industrial partners in future co-development of radar technologies. Second, India and Israel signed a major defense pact aimed at facilitating advanced technology sharing and promoting the co-development and joint production of critical weapon systems and military hardware. The memorandum provides a unified vision and policy direction for deepening the already robust strategic relationship between the two countries, with cooperation areas covering strategic dialogue, training, defense industrial collaboration, S&T R&D, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

In summary, by integrating multi-source information, this report outlines a multi-dimensional picture of India's current defense construction: on one hand, pursuing strategic autonomy through rapid indigenous shipbuilding and full industrial chain self-reliance; on the other hand, seizing the future technological high ground by embracing disruptive technologies like 3D printing and AI and establishing a massive R&D fund; while simultaneously deepening pragmatic cooperation with technologically leading countries like France and Israel to acquire key technologies and enhance support capabilities. These measures collectively point to India's strategic intent to build a strong, autonomous, and technologically advanced defense system to support its long-term great power aspirations.