DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in defense Research and Development (R&D) during a recent lecture, highlighting that India allocates only 0.65% of its defense budget to R&D compared to over 2% by competitors. Kamat called for enhanced participation from industries, startups, and academia to foster innovation, citing challenges like supply chain control and talent scarcity. He outlined DRDO’s focus on next-generation capabilities, including missile defense and cyber security, with plans to introduce several advanced systems in the next few years. Kamat concluded with optimism about achieving self-reliance and technological leadership in defense by 2047, aligning with the national goals of Aatmnirbhar Bharat and Make in India.