Why Industry 5.0 matters for India's defence and how Aimtron is making it real

India's defence manufacturing is entering the Industry 5.0 era, where machines empower rather than replace humans. By blending AI, robotics, and skilled expertise, the shift promises resilient supply chains and reduced import dependency.

- By Aanchal Ghatak

India's defence industry is at an inflection point. With the ambition of achieving USD 25 billion in defence manufacturing by 2025, the urgency for self-reliance could not be clearer. The challenge is not just scaling production volumes but building an ecosystem that can design, prototype, and manufacture mission-critical systems domestically, with minimal reliance on imports.

Industry 4.0 was about automation and efficiency. Industry 5.0 puts people back at the centre of innovation—engineers and skilled professionals working with Al, robotics, and IoT to bring adaptability, speed, and security. For defence, this translates into rapid customisation, predictive maintenance, resilient supply chains, and hybrid production—all embedded in the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Founded in 2011 by Mukesh Vasani, Aimtron has grown from low-volume PCB assembly to high-volume prototyping and box builds, replicating US-grade, ITAR-compliant processes in India. With a Rs 100 crore greenfield facility in Gujarat and an R&D hub in Bengaluru, Aimtron balances automation with human-led oversight to deliver defence-grade electronics across UAVs, avionics, cyber defence, and tactical communications.

How is Industry 5.0 shaping India's defence manufacturing ecosystem?