The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has brought together the Indian Armed Forces, defence industry, academia and technology developers for a two-day national seminar focused on emerging technologies shaping the future battlespace.
The seminar, titled “NETRA-2026: Engineering the Future Battlespace — Electronic Warfare, Digital Twin and Mission Critical System Design,” commenced in Bengaluru on August 11 and will continue through August 12, followed by a hands-on technical workshop on August 13.
Organised by DRDO in association with the Association of Old Crows (AoC), India Chapter, and industry partners including Infinipoint, MathWorks, Ansys, Keysight and Synopsys, the event was inaugurated by Dr B K Das, Director General (Electronics and Communication Systems), DRDO.
Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), attended the event as Guest of Honour, while Sunil Motawani of MathWorks was also present.
NETRA-2026 provides a common platform for the Armed Forces, DRDO laboratories, Defence Public Sector Undertakings, academia and industry to examine technologies and engineering methodologies relevant to next-generation military operations.
The seminar is focusing on a range of futuristic and niche capabilities, including electronic warfare, digital twins, artificial intelligence, radar and radio-frequency systems, FPGA design, mission-critical systems and digital engineering.
A key focus of the discussions is the integration of modelling and simulation, digital engineering and intelligent technologies into defence system development. Such approaches can support faster design, testing, validation and deployment of complex mission-critical systems while reducing development risks and timelines.
The seminar is also providing an opportunity for researchers, defence technology developers and operational users to exchange technical expertise, discuss battlefield requirements and showcase advances in emerging defence technologies.
The hands-on workshop scheduled for August 13 will provide participants with practical exposure to contemporary engineering tools and methodologies applicable to defence system development.
NETRA-2026 is expected to further strengthen collaboration between the Armed Forces, DRDO, Defence PSUs, academia and the private sector, while supporting indigenous technology development and capability building.
The initiative assumes significance as India seeks to build technologically advanced and increasingly networked military capabilities for the evolving battlespace, with a strong emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the development of critical defence technologies within the country.
