Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence

India's military history through time

Objective

Era Objective

Jointness, Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence covers the period from 2014 to the present, tracing the transformation of the Indian Armed Forces through operational responses, defence modernisation, indigenous capability development and changes in higher defence organisation. The era includes major security events such as the 2016 Uri attack and subsequent surgical strikes, the 2019 Pulwama attack and Balakot air strike, the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, and Operation Sindoor in 2025. The period also marks significant reforms in defence leadership and jointness. The appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff and creation of the Department of Military Affairs in 2019–20 brought renewed focus to coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force. Theatre-command proposals, integrated planning, and joint operational capability became important themes in defence discussions. Alongside operational developments, India expanded its focus on indigenous defence production, modern equipment, surveillance, precision capabilities, drones, cyber and space-related security. The era also includes changes in recruitment and personnel policy, including the Agnipath scheme, and the increasing participation of women in different roles across the Armed Forces. It reflects an ongoing period of operational adaptation, institutional reform and technological change.

Visual Record

Photos From This Era

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 1

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 2

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 3

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 4

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 5

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 6

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 7

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 8

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 9

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 10

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 11

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 12

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 13

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 14

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 15

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 16

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 17

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 18

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 19

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 20

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 21

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 22

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 23

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 24

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 25

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 26

Indigenous Capability & New-Age Defence — photo 27

Historical Context

Understanding This Era

The period opened with continued security challenges along India’s borders and in Jammu and Kashmir. The 18 September 2016 terrorist attack on the Indian Army base at Uri was followed by Indian Army surgical strikes across the Line of Control on 28–29 September 2016. In February 2019, the Pulwama terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy was followed by the Indian Air Force’s air strike at Balakot on 26 February. These events became major reference points in India’s responses to cross-border terrorism. In 2020, a prolonged military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control with China included the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June. The situation placed renewed attention on high-altitude deployment, border infrastructure, surveillance, logistics and military preparedness. India and China subsequently held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks, while disengagement arrangements were pursued at specific friction points. A major institutional development came in December 2019 with the appointment of the first Chief of Defence Staff and the creation of the Department of Military Affairs. These reforms were intended to promote jointness, improve coordination among the Services and support the integration of military planning. Discussions on theatre commands and integrated operational structures continued in the following years. The era also saw a stronger emphasis on indigenous defence production and technology, including modern aircraft, naval platforms, missile systems, drones, electronic warfare and space-based capabilities. The Agnipath recruitment scheme was introduced in 2022, while the participation of women expanded across selected branches and roles. On 7 May 2025, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Ministry of Defence. The era remains ongoing, with jointness, technological capability and operational readiness continuing as major areas of development.

Historical Timeline

Entries in This Era

2014 – Defence Modernisation & Self-Reliance2015 – Counter-Terrorism Operations2016 – Uri Terror Attack2016 – Surgical Strikes2019 – Pulwama Terror Attack2019 – Balakot Air Strike2019–2020 – CDS & DMA Reforms2020 – Galwan Valley Clash2025 – Pahalgam Terror Attack2025 – Operation Sindoor

What Changed?

Doctrine

The period saw continued evolution in India’s approach to responding to terrorism and managing border threats. The surgical strikes of September 2016 following the Uri attack and the Balakot air strike of February 2019 following Pulwama became major examples of military responses to cross-border terrorism. These events brought greater attention to intelligence-led planning, precision action, operational signalling and the management of escalation. The 2020 Galwan Valley clash and subsequent border deployments reinforced the importance of high-altitude readiness, rapid mobilisation, surveillance, logistics and infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control. At the same time, the CDS and DMA reforms strengthened the policy focus on jointness and integrated planning. Operation Sindoor in 2025 further highlighted the relevance of coordinated, multi-domain capabilities, including intelligence, air defence, precision systems and inter-service coordination.

Equipment

The era saw continued induction and development of modern platforms and systems across the Indian Armed Forces. Key areas included fighter aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels, submarines, artillery, missile systems, air defence, radars, surveillance platforms and modern infantry equipment. The emphasis on indigenous capability also expanded through programmes involving domestic design, production and technology development, while selected imports continued to support operational requirements. The operational experiences of 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2025 reinforced the importance of precision, reliable communications, surveillance, mobility and layered air defence. Unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone capabilities, electronic warfare and advanced sensors became increasingly significant in military planning. Operation Sindoor in 2025 brought renewed public attention to the use of precision capabilities and indigenous systems, while also highlighting the importance of integrating equipment across different domains.

Leadership

The period brought changes to India’s higher defence leadership structure, particularly through the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff in December 2019. The CDS was created to promote jointness among the Army, Navy and Air Force and to provide a single-point military advisory role to the government. The creation of the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence placed additional focus on joint planning, coordination and administrative integration among the Services. Operational events from Uri and the 2016 surgical strikes to Pulwama, Balakot, Galwan and Operation Sindoor placed continuing demands on military leadership, including inter-service coordination, readiness and strategic communication. The CDS-led structure and subsequent reform discussions reflected an institutional effort to strengthen joint operational planning. The era also saw continuing debate on the future structure of theatre commands and the distribution of responsibilities among the Services.

Technology

Technology became a central element of military capability development during this era. Modernisation increasingly involved networked communications, surveillance systems, precision weapons, unmanned platforms, electronic warfare, advanced sensors and space-based support. Cyber and space domains gained importance in defence planning, while indigenous research and production programmes aimed to strengthen domestic design and manufacturing capacity. The period also saw greater attention to integrating technology across the Army, Navy and Air Force rather than treating platforms as isolated capabilities. Drone operations, counter-drone systems, real-time information, secure communications and layered air defence became significant areas of development. Operation Sindoor in 2025 brought these themes into public focus, with official briefings describing the role of precision strikes and coordinated capabilities. The era represents an ongoing transition towards technology-enabled and multi-domain operations.

Organisation

The creation of the Department of Military Affairs and the office of the Chief of Defence Staff marked a major change in the organisation of higher defence management. These reforms aimed to improve coordination among the three Services and support the gradual development of integrated planning and joint capabilities. Discussions on theatre commands, integrated battle groups and joint logistics became important parts of the wider reform agenda, although proposed structures and implementation timelines have continued to evolve. The period also involved changes in force organisation and personnel policy. The Agnipath scheme, introduced in 2022, changed the recruitment model for Agniveers in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Alongside this, specialised formations and capabilities for surveillance, air defence, cyber security, space and unmanned systems received growing attention. These developments reflect an organisational shift towards jointness, specialisation and adaptation to changing operational requirements.

Strategic Role

The Indian Armed Forces continued their primary responsibility of defending national sovereignty while responding to a changing security environment. The Uri and Pulwama attacks, the subsequent military responses, and the 2020 Galwan Valley clash demonstrated the continuing importance of counter-terrorism, border security, high-altitude preparedness and conventional military readiness. These developments also placed greater emphasis on the ability to respond across different operational settings. The strategic role of the Armed Forces increasingly involved joint operations, indigenous capability, technological preparedness and coordination across land, air, maritime, cyber and space-related domains. The CDS and DMA reforms reflected the institutional importance of jointness, while Operation Sindoor in 2025 demonstrated a coordinated military response following the Pahalgam attack. As the era remains ongoing, the Armed Forces’ strategic role continues to develop around deterrence, readiness, modernisation and integrated national defence.