Trusted silicon is non-negotiable for defence; India needs semiconductor sovereignty: Bharat Electronics’ Hari Kumar R

BENGALURU: India’s semiconductor ambitions have moved beyond an economic or technological opportunity to become a strategic imperative, particularly for defence and critical infrastructure, according to Hari Kumar R, director (R&D), Bharat Electronics.

Delivering a keynote address at the ETElectronicsWorld Design & Verification Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, Kumar said trusted silicon has become non-negotiable for defence organisations because semiconductors increasingly underpin systems on which soldiers and national security depend.