Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has entered into a three-way strategic collaboration with the Indian Navy and Apollo Micro Systems Limited to jointly develop next-generation indigenous defence technologies. The partnership aims to strengthen India's push for self-reliance in critical military systems.

The Joint Development MoU was exchanged in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Indian Navy's 'Swavalamban 2025' event held in New Delhi on November 25.

The alliance brings together IIT Madras' research expertise, the Navy's operational and field-driven requirements, and Apollo Micro Systems' industrial engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The collaborative model is expected to create a unified innovation ecosystem supporting the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission in defence.

Prof. P. A. Ramakrishna of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, who is coordinating the initiative at IIT Madras, said the MoU provides a structured framework to address both immediate and emerging technological challenges. It is designed to accelerate the conversion of laboratory innovations into deployment-ready defence products.

Apollo Micro Systems Managing Director Karunakar Reddy said the collaboration would help solve critical problem statements of the Armed Forces. He noted that the synergy between academic research, manufacturing strength, and naval operational expertise creates a strong foundation for defence indigenisation.

The partnership will focus on key technology domains including advanced electronic warfare, precision guidance and navigation, high-energy armament systems and emerging high-technology solutions.

Under the arrangement, IIT Madras will act as the research anchor driving fundamental research, concept development and prototyping. The Directorate General of Naval Armament Inspection (DGNAI) will provide operational inputs, testing protocols and performance validation, while Apollo Micro Systems will convert research outputs into rugged, production-scale systems for induction into defence platforms.