From hospitals to railways and faith centers, India will build a nationwide tech-powered protection grid by 2035
By S JHA
Mumbai, August 15, 2025 — Declaring a decade-long push to harden India’s critical infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said from the Red Fort that “in the coming 10 years, by 2035,” key strategic and civilian sites—hospitals, railways and centers of faith—will be “fully protected by the new platform of technology.”
The Prime Minister stated that the national security cover would be expanded, strengthened and modernised, and announced “Mission Sudarshan Chakra,” invoking Lord Krishna to symbolise precision, speed and decisive defence.
While detailed specifications were not released, the contours point to a layered air and surface defence network blending sensors (radars, EO/IR), interceptors (SAMs), electronic warfare, command-and-control (C2), secure communications and cyber resilience—building on existing Indian programs such as Akash/Akash-NG, Akashteer air-defence C2, and indigenous long-range systems under development.
Likely ecosystem players (capability-led)
- Bharat Electronics (BEL): Prime radar/C4I house; supplies Akash radars, command posts and the Akashteer automated air-defence C2 for the Army; engaged in Project Kusha (desi long-range SAM akin to S-400) and QRSAM electronics. Strong candidate for sensors, C2 and network integration.
- Bharat Dynamics (BDL): State missile integrator for Akash (and other DRDO missiles). Likely to benefit if interceptor volumes rise.
- Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL): Platforms/integration (Tejas, helicopters) and mission systems; relevant for sensor/avionics integration and any air-launched counter-UAS/air-defence adjuncts. Recent radar sourcing news underscores the need to indigenise critical payloads.
- Larsen & Toubro (L&T): Launchers, composites, naval/land systems; frequent DRDO prime/partner for air-defence launch and canister systems. (Part of Akash ecosystem as per public domain.)
- Data Patterns (India) Ltd: Vertically integrated defence electronics—radars, EW, C2 consoles, mission computers; management has flagged faster defence ordering cycles. Fits well for consoles, radar subsystems and integration.
- Astra Microwave Products: RF/microwave front-ends, T/R modules, radar sub-systems across short-, medium- and long-range radars—key building blocks for any layered air defence.
- Paras Defence & Space: Optics, electro-optics, gimbals and space/defence payloads; potential role in EO/IR tracking and counter-UAS payloads. (General capability; aligns with surveillance layers.)
- Zen Technologies: Live/virtual training & simulators and anti-drone solutions—relevant for operator training and counter-UAS.
- Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group): Artillery/defence components; potential for launch canisters/structures and kinetic C-UAS.
- MTAR Technologies, ideaForge, Astra-adjacent suppliers: Precision components, drones and sub-systems that slot into sensing and response layers.
Note: DRDO will remain the core design authority; some firms (e.g., Tata Advanced Systems) are unlisted but likely to play integration roles. The above list is capability-based and indicative, not an official roster.
What it could mean for listed defence stocks
A national tech shield by 2035 implies multi-year order visibility across radars/C2 (BEL, Data Patterns, Astra Microwave), interceptors & launchers (BDL, L&T), EO/IR & counter-UAS (Paras, Zen), and platform integration (HAL).
Potential catalysts (12–36 months): Follow-on orders in Akash/Akash-NG, QRSAM, and scaling of Akashteer/Project Kusha trials into production lots. Budgetary prioritisation for critical infrastructure protection and counter-UAS deployments at civilian sites. Policy push for higher indigenous content after recent debates on imported subsystems (opportunity for local radar/EW vendors).
Disclaimer: This article makes no recommendation for buy or sell of shares of any company.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
