Golden Era of Defence Innovation

Event Spotlight: Swavlamban 2025 as a Catalyst for Indigenization

Swavlamban, organized by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), has evolved into a cornerstone of India’s defence startup ecosystem since its inception in 2022. This year’s edition marked a significant expansion, growing from 800 participants in the first seminar to an impressive 3,000 attendees, reflecting the explosive interest in homegrown solutions. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted the Navy’s pivotal role, noting that it accounts for 35% of the 565 iDEX challenges issued to date—a testament to the seminar’s role in accelerating innovation.

The two-day event featured an expansive exhibition where nearly 80 startups and MSMEs unveiled deployable prototypes tailored to the operational needs of the armed forces. Innovations spanned AI-driven autonomous systems, underwater technologies, quantum-secure communications, stealth solutions, and smart ordnance, many of which are poised for rapid integration into naval fleets. Interactive sessions on “Future and Emerging Technologies” and “Boosting the iDEX Ecosystem” facilitated dialogues among subject experts, innovators, and naval specialists, while dedicated interactions between MSMEs/startups and venture capitalists opened doors to funding and scaling opportunities. The seminar also included engagements with foreign naval and defence attachés, underscoring India’s global outreach in collaborative innovation.

Key highlights included the launch of Innovathon, a national-level hackathon targeting students, researchers, developers, and defence technologists to tackle real-world naval challenges. Additionally, an MoU was signed between the Indian Navy, IIT-Madras, and Apollo Micro Systems for the indigenous development of advanced armaments, exemplifying academia-industry-military synergy. These elements not only showcased technological prowess but also reinforced Swavlamban’s mandate to bridge the gap from prototype to deployment, ensuring innovations contribute to strategic autonomy and cost efficiency.

Rajnath Singh’s Keynote: From Buyer to Builder

Addressing a hall brimming with youthful energy and innovative zeal, Singh credited India’s young entrepreneurs for transforming the nation from a mere “buyer” of defence equipment into a “builder, creator, and global leader.” He declared, “When I stand in this hall today and look towards all of you, it gives me confidence that India is entering into a golden era of defence innovation, and you people are laying the foundation of this golden era.” This foundation, he elaborated, integrates economic strength, strategic foresight, and technological advancements to craft a resilient new defence architecture.

Singh urged the ecosystem to adopt a “profit-plus” approach—balancing commercial viability with national interests—to develop platforms and systems that earn global trust. In a rapidly evolving world marked by technological disruptions and shifting alliances, he stressed the imperative for India to move beyond reactive postures: “India must remain proactive, ahead of the curve, and future-ready.” This proactive stance, he argued, is essential to counter emerging threats in multi-domain warfare, including cyber, space, and cognitive arenas, while fostering a self-reliant supply chain for maintenance, repair, overhaul, and spares.

A stark warning accompanied the optimism: Dependence on foreign imports imposes not just upfront costs but long-term financial burdens through spares and upkeep. “When we procure any major equipment from outside, it’s not just the cost of purchasing it. Along with that, the country has to bear the long-term financial burden of maintenance, repair, and spare parts supply,” Singh cautioned. By indigenizing, India can slash these vulnerabilities, enhance combat readiness, and invigorate the economy through job creation and exports.

iDEX-Funded Startups: Showcasing AI Drones, Cyber Tools, and More

At the heart of Swavlamban 2025 were the iDEX-funded startups, whose breakthroughs illuminated the seminar’s exhibition halls. iDEX, launched in 2018 with a Rs. 498.78 crore outlay for 2021-26, has already inked over 350 contracts worth Rs. 2,273 crore for procurement of successful prototypes, empowering nearly 300 startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators. The program provides grants up to Rs. 1.5 crore (or Rs. 10 crore under iDEX Prime) via the SPARK framework, supporting R&D in critical areas like AI, robotics, and quantum tech.

Among the 50+ startups featured, several stood out for their alignment with tri-service needs. For instance, AI-powered drones from firms like Flying Wedge—fresh off a silver win at ARCA 2025—demonstrated swarm capabilities for reconnaissance and precision strikes, integrating machine learning for real-time threat assessment. Cyber tools took center stage too, with solutions from Alpha Design Technologies offering quantum-resistant encryption to safeguard naval networks against state-sponsored hacks. Other notables included underwater autonomous vehicles from Data Patterns for mine countermeasures and smart munitions from Astra Microwave Products, featuring GPS-denied navigation for contested environments.

• AI Drones: Startups like Endure Air Systems showcased loitering munitions with 2-hour endurance, funded under iDEX DISC challenges, enhancing IAF and Navy ISR ops.
• Cyber Defence Tools: Innovations in AI-driven anomaly detection from Zen Technologies protect against ransomware and DDoS, with prototypes tested in joint exercises.
• Autonomous Systems: Battery-free underwater gliders from VEM Technologies enable persistent surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Quantum Tech: Early-stage quantum sensors from IIT collaborators promise stealth detection, bridging academia to deployment.

Ten iDEX winners were felicitated, including those behind deployable products now procured by the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Central Armed Police Forces—exemplifying a “whole-of-defence” approach. Admiral Tripathi praised how these innovations have expanded beyond the Navy, creating cross-service synergies and validating iDEX’s ecosystem-building prowess.

Announcements on Eased FDI Norms and the $500M Innovation Fund

Singh’s address was punctuated by transformative announcements aimed at supercharging private sector involvement. A key reveal was the easing of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in defence, raising the automatic route cap to 74% from 49% for most projects and allowing up to 100% under government approval for cutting-edge tech transfers. This liberalization is projected to attract $10-15 billion in inflows over the next five years, fueling joint ventures in areas like UAVs and electronic warfare.

Complementing this was the launch of a $500 million (Rs. 4,200 crore) Defence Innovation Fund under iDEX, channeled through DIO to support high-risk, high-reward R&D. Managed via equity investments and grants, the fund targets 100+ startups annually, with a focus on disruptive domains like hypersonics and directed-energy weapons. Roundtables with banks and investors, as seen in April 2025, addressed financing hurdles, aligning venture capital with defence priorities. Additionally, Singh inaugurated SARATHI—a CDAC-developed digital platform for armament review, analysis, tracking, handling, and indigenisation—enhancing transparency and accelerating procurement cycles.

Documents released included the Swavlamban 4.0 framework, outlining 50 new naval tech challenges; the Armament Indigenisation Compendium, listing 300+ import-substitution items; and a Compendium of Indian Naval Technological Challenges, inviting global bids. These tools, combined with the fund, signal a robust policy push toward 50% private sector contribution in indigenous manufacturing by 2030.

Call to Action: A Proactive R&D Imperative for Future Threats

Urging the audience to “make the defence ecosystem bigger, bolder, and faster,” Singh issued a clarion call for proactive R&D investment. In an era of hybrid warfare and peer competitors’ advancements, he emphasized disrupting complacency: “The private sector must come up with platforms that become symbols of the world’s trust in India.” This extends to countering threats like China’s IOR incursions and Pakistan’s post-Operation Sindoor buildup, where indigenous cyber tools and AI drones could tip the scales.

With attendees including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat, and Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, the event fostered tri-service integration. Sessions on emerging tech delved into AI ethics, supply chain resilience, and green defence innovations, while the Technology Development Acceleration Cell presented accelerators for scaling prototypes.

Tying to Broader Self-Reliance Goals: Atmanirbhar Bharat in Action

Swavlamban 2025 embodies Atmanirbhar Bharat’s defence pillar, reducing import dependency from 70% in 2014 to under 40% today. By empowering startups—mirroring successes like the Gaurav glide bomb for Su-30MKI—India is not just innovating but exporting, with iDEX alumni eyeing markets in Southeast Asia and Africa. Singh’s vision aligns with the 2025-26 budget’s Rs. 500 crore iDEX boost, contrasting with DRDO’s TDF constraints, and signals a private-led renaissance.

As the seminar concluded, the air buzzed with optimism. Innovators like those from Flying Wedge echoed Singh’s sentiment: “We’re not just building tech; we’re building India’s tomorrow.” In this golden era, Swavlamban 2025 isn’t a event—it’s a revolution, igniting a startup surge that could redefine global defence dynamics by 2047.