In a major step towards advancing self-reliance in defence technologies, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has signed a strategic collaboration with the Indian Navy and Apollo Micro Systems Limited to accelerate the indigenous development of next-generation defence systems.
A Joint Development Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged in the presence of Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh during the Indian Navy’s ‘Swavalamban 2025’ event held in New Delhi on 25th November 2025.
This tri-partite alliance brings together the R&D expertise of IIT Madras, the operational insights of the Indian Navy, and the industrial and manufacturing capabilities of Apollo Micro Systems, establishing an integrated innovation ecosystem aligned with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
Highlighting the objectives of the collaboration, Prof. P.A. Ramakrishna, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, said that the partnership aims to “jointly address current and emerging technological challenges of the Armed Forces” and to accelerate the transition of laboratory innovations into deployment-ready solutions tailored for national defence needs.
The collaboration will focus on key domains including advanced electronic warfare, precision guidance and navigation systems, high-energy armament systems, and emerging multi-domain technologies.
As the Research Anchor, IIT Madras will lead concept development, prototyping, and intellectual property (IP) generation in critical areas. The Directorate General of Naval Armament Inspection (DGNAI) of the Indian Navy will provide mission-critical operational inputs, define user requirements, and conduct validation and testing to ensure adherence to naval standards.
Apollo Micro Systems Limited will serve as the Technology Development and Manufacturing Partner, leveraging over four decades of experience to translate research outcomes into rugged, production-scale defence systems. The company will focus on rapid engineering, system integration, and large-scale manufacturing for operational induction.
Commenting on the collaboration, Shri Karunakar Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Micro Systems Limited, stated, “The synergy between IIT Madras’ research excellence, our manufacturing capability, and DGNAI’s operational expertise creates a powerful ecosystem for defence indigenisation.”
The partnership is expected to strengthen India’s defence innovation landscape, contributing to the Ministry of Defence’s self-reliance goals and reinforcing India’s position as a global hub for indigenous defence technology and innovation.
