New Delhi : NDTV’s annual Defence Summit 2025, held on August 30, brought together the country’s top leadership, policymakers, armed forces chiefs, veterans, and industry leaders to deliberate on ‘Warfare in the 21st Century’.
The summit opened with a powerful keynote address by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on ‘Operation Sindoor: A Strategic and Operational Success.’ He underscored India’s decisive military response to the Pahalgam terror attack and reiterated that atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is indispensable for India’s security and economy in today’s shifting geopolitics. Stressing that India’s foreign policy is shaped by ‘permanent interests, not permanent friends or enemies,’ he also announced that all Indian warships will henceforth be built domestically, and highlighted the indigenous ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ project as a demonstration of India’s expanding strategic vision.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, in the session ‘In Defence of Atmanirbhar Bharat,’ outlined the policy reforms, indigenous innovation, and collaborations shaping India’s defence ecosystem. Sharing insights on Operation Sindoor, he noted the leadership’s confidence throughout the campaign – remarking that he played tennis every morning during the operation to underscore its calm execution. He also confirmed that the first two Tejas Mark 1A fighter aircraft with full weapons integration are likely to be delivered by the end of September.
The armed forces’ perspective was a central theme. Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff, described Operation Sindoor as a watershed moment, reaffirming the IAF as ‘India’s sword arm.’ He revealed that fewer than 50 weapons were used to force Pakistan into a ceasefire, demonstrating precision and restraint, and unveiled, for the first time publicly, the IAF’s integrated air command map.
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Northern Army Commander, in his session ‘Indian Army: From Restraint to Response,’ detailed rapid mobilisation, precision strikes on terror camps, and the deployment of indigenous technologies during Operation Sindoor. He also reflected on the evolving face of terror operations, drawing lessons from both Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev.
The summit explored the changing character of warfare through a series of thematic sessions. ‘Shakti in Uniform’ featured Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and Colonel Anshu Jamwal, who shared how women are reshaping leadership roles in the armed forces. In ‘Drone Acharya: The Evolution of Drone Warfare,’ industry innovators from Paras Defence, IdeaForge, NewSpace Research, and Exicom discussed the battlefield impact of drones.
The session ‘Lessons from the Past’ brought together former armed forces chiefs General Manoj Pande, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, and Admiral Arun Prakash, who reflected on the synergy across the Army, Navy, and Air Force during Operation Sindoor and traced India’s technological progress since 1971.
Industry voices added depth to the dialogue. Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace, underlined the expanding role of private players in defence R&D, exports, and global supply chains, while warning of the rise of AI-driven cognitive warfare, likening it to an ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ scenario. Atul Dinkar Rane, former DG, BrahMos, traced ‘The BrahMos Story’ and called the missile a hallmark of India’s foreign policy and operational strength.
In the session ‘Make in India, Build for the World,’ Nikhil Joshi (Boeing Defence India), Ashish Saraf (Pratt & Whitney), and Ashok Wadhawan (Adani Defence & Aerospace) discussed how India can position itself as a trusted defence export hub. Amur Lakshminarayanan, CEO, Tata Communications, spoke on ‘Reimagining Defence: A Digital Fabric for a Secure and Connected India,’ emphasising the role of telecom, cloud, and data infrastructure in national security. Puneet Kaura, Samtel Avionics, showcased advances in avionics and aerospace electronics, with a strong focus on reducing import dependence.
The NDTV Defence Summit 2025 affirmed NDTV’s resolve to be at the heart of India’s national conversation. By drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor and looking ahead to the challenges of future warfare, the Summit gave voice to India’s aspirations and its strategic priorities. It reflects the commitment of a new NDTV for a New India – to tell India’s story with honesty, purpose, and clarity.
