Should Civilian, Private, and Public Sectors Build Next-Gen Tech Together? What Defence Ministry Study Suggests

New Delhi: When it comes to infrastructure and next-generation technology development, should civilian firms—both private and public—go it alone? Or should there be collaboration, a joint effort with the military?

A Defence Ministry study suggesting civil-military fusion is on the anvil, highly placed sources said."There is a Semiconductor Mission, a Quantum Mission, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mission. We are working in this area as well, and if there are government missions, we want to be part of them. Why have separate initiatives?" a senior official asked.The missions are all well-funded, adding up to roughly Rs 1,00,000 crore."If we are taken along, there could be some value added. If nothing else, we will be able to coordinate our work. These are national funds. Coordination of technological work can only benefit the innovation ecosystem," the official added.Dialogue between the two sides is becoming imperative—even for tactical reasons. For instance, there are infrastructure projects in border areas that fall within artillery range. In Rajasthan, acres of solar panels—critical to India’s renewable energy programme—are located about 100 km from the border, within artillery and rocket-firing range, making them a “lucrative target.” In such cases, camouflage may be necessary during stressful times.Closer links with the Civil Aviation Ministry are also essential, as many airfields are shared with the armed forces.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

With the execution model of the indigenously designed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) nearly ready, a presentation before Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is being arranged.There is strong private sector involvement, with seven Indian firms and their partners—including the Tatas, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge, the Adanis, Hindustan Aeronautics, and BrahMos—competing as bidders.A Technical Evaluation Committee, headed by Dr AS Pillai, a former senior DRDO official, will decide which firms are eligible to work with ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) to design and develop the AMCA—a twin-engine, stealthy, fifth-generation fighter for the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.