ABSTRACT
In the realist international arena, characterised by power contests along nationalist lines, countries maximize their influence by creating powerful militaries that deploy advanced weaponry. National military capabilities rest on industrial ecosystems capable of designing, developing, manufacturing, and sustaining battle-winning weaponry. This creates the political influence and military power a country needs for deterrence and coercion, without compromising its autonomy through technological dependencies. However, the timely supply of advanced weaponry often runs afoul of the requirement for autonomy in defence production. On the supply side, Indian industry lacks the scientific and technological capabilities needed for developing advanced weaponry in quick time. On the demand side, the government must allocate the defence funding needed to create the demand for weaponry. New Delhi must simultaneously tackle supply side as well as demand side issues.
