Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Raj Shah, Managing Partner at Silicon Valley-based national security venture capital firm Shield Capital, has said that India is emerging as a critical partner for the United States in defence innovation, particularly through platforms such as INDUS-X. Shah, who previously led the Pentagon’s elite Defence Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), told HTthat advanced technologies in space, undersea systems, artificial intelligence, and cyber defence will shape the future of warfare.

Shah emphasized that while the US currently maintains an edge over rivals like China in defence technologies, its dominance is not guaranteed. “Speed alone isn’t enough,” he said. “The next frontier is combining technologies at scale and operationalising them globally, while maintaining resilience and security.”

He highlighted the role of India in this ecosystem, saying that collaboration through initiatives like INDUS-X benefits both countries by accelerating technology adoption, expanding the industrial base, and strengthening shared security interests.

According to Shah, Shield Capital is actively scouting global startups in AI, autonomy, cyber, and space, encouraging firms to operate internationally. Indian companies, he said, can contribute to US defence priorities by engaging with challenges and solicitations, supplying innovative technologies, and enhancing industrial resilience and interoperabilitywith allies.

Shah also stressed the importance of a borderless approach to defence innovation, combining commercial technology, venture investment, and strategic partnerships to ensure that advanced systems reach operational use effectively.

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