India's missile arsenal has undergone a revolutionary transformation over the past two decades, evolving from Soviet-era legacy systems to a cutting-edge inventory that includes one of the world's fastest anti-ship missiles, a comprehensive ballistic missile defence shield, and increasingly credible hypersonic programme aspirations. The Bharat Defence Tech Show has hosted some of India's most nuanced discussions on missile doctrine, capability gaps, and the industrial requirements for sustaining and expanding this critical strategic asset.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile — a joint venture between India and Russia — has set a global benchmark for anti-ship and precision land-attack capabilities. At BDTS, discussions have examined the BrahMos NG (Next Generation) programme, which aims to make the weapon lighter, faster, and compatible with a wider range of platforms including fighter aircraft, naval vessels, and ground-based launchers. The industrial implications of the BrahMos expansion, particularly for domestic component manufacturers supplying propulsion, guidance, and warhead systems, have been a major topic for OEMs attending BDTS.
India's Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) programme places the country in an exclusive club alongside the US, Russia, and China pursuing Mach 6+ weapons. BDTS sessions with DRDO scientists have outlined the enormous materials science, propulsion, and thermal management challenges involved in developing viable hypersonic weapons, and have highlighted specific technology areas where private sector companies and academic institutions can contribute.
The summit has also addressed India's emerging non-kinetic strike capabilities, including the role of electronic warfare missiles in suppressing enemy air defences (SEAD) missions and the development of loitering munitions that combine the persistence of a UAV with the lethality of a precision munition.
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