Newsletter
Operation Sindoor is now a year old, but its impact on India’s defence ecosystem is still unfolding.
Breaking it down: beyond the strikes and military strategy, the operation became a turning point for India’s push towards modern warfare and homegrown defence technology.
Over the last 12 months, the focus has sharply shifted towards defence modernisation, faster procurement, and most importantly, building more within India. And the markets have noticed.
The Nifty India Defence Index has surged nearly 30% over the past year. Stocks like MTAR Tech have skyrocketed almost 350%, while Axiscades and Apollo Micro Systems have gained over 180% and 160%, respectively.
The capex push: India’s defence capital expenditure for FY27 is projected at over ₹2.19 lakh crore, up 17.6% year-on-year, after another strong jump in FY26.
But perhaps the biggest shift is in the way wars themselves are changing.
Future conflicts won’t just be fought with tanks and soldiers, they’ll be driven by technology, drones, missiles, and precision systems. In modern warfare, countries may need to replace thousands of drones every single day during combat.
And India is preparing for exactly that.
One system that grabbed attention after Operation Sindoor was the ALS-50 loitering munition developed by Tata Advanced Systems. Often described as a ‘game-changer,’ it can track and strike targets with high precision.
At the same time, DRDO is working on next-generation weapons, including hypersonic glide and cruise missiles that can travel at speeds far faster than many current systems.
India is also developing advanced anti-ship missiles and preparing for the Agni-6 missile programme, which is expected to have a range of up to 12,000 kilometres and the ability to carry multiple warheads.
One year after Operation Sindoor, one thing is clear: India is no longer preparing for the wars of the past. It is building for the wars of the future, faster, smarter, and far more technology-driven.
