In a significant stride toward strengthening ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in the defence sector, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Indian Navy and Apollo Micro Systems Limited. This collaboration was formalized through a Joint Development Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the ‘Swavalamban 2025’ event held in New Delhi on November 25, 2025, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The tri-party alliance leverages the complementary strengths of the participants: IIT Madras brings its robust academic and research capabilities, the Indian Navy contributes operational insights and validation through the Directorate General of Naval Armament Inspection (DGNAI), and Apollo Micro Systems offers advanced manufacturing expertise to transform innovations into deployable systems.

The partnership is designed to accelerate the development of cutting-edge defence technologies, including sophisticated electronic warfare systems, precision-guided weapons, and high-energy armaments. Under this framework, IIT Madras will act as the Research Anchor, spearheading concept development and early-stage technology design. DGNAI will play a critical role in testing and validating these technologies against stringent naval operational standards. Apollo Micro Systems will then ensure that the technologies are manufactured into rugged, field-ready systems suitable for operational deployment.

Prof. PA Ramakrishna of IIT Madras and Karunakar Reddy, MD of Apollo Micro Systems, highlighted that the collaboration will create a dynamic ecosystem for defence innovation. By facilitating the rapid transition of laboratory research into real-world applications, the alliance aims to enhance India’s self-reliance in defence technology and strengthen its position as a global hub for cutting-edge defence solutions.