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DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat emphasized the necessity of increasing India's R&D budget, which currently stands at only 0.65% of GDP, significantly lower than competitors who allocate over 2%. He noted that India's defense R&D constitutes just 5.75% of its defense budget compared to over 10% by the US.

Speaking at the 40th Air Chief Marshal PC Lal Memorial Lecture, Kamat highlighted the changing nature of warfare and the need for a robust research environment to support India's ambitions for self-reliance by 2047. He identified challenges including supply chain control, talent shortages, and the need for civil-military fusion.

Kamat announced DRDO’s initiatives such as the collaborative PhD program and the focus on next-generation capabilities like Cyber Defence and Missile Systems. He called for increased industry participation and innovation to achieve technology leadership in defense.