New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- Modern defence sovereignty begins with credible hardware underpinned by strong propulsion, sensing and materials technologies. No country builds all this alone; even technological superpowers absorb inputs from multiple geographies. The question is not whether a nation touches every component, but whether it shapes the architecture, performance, adaptation cycles and mission relevance of the finished platform. This is exactly where co-development becomes not merely useful, but essential. Joint hardware programmes allow India to incorporate global engineering expertise while simultaneously deepening domestic capability in assembly, integration, simulation, testing, sustainment and certification. Instead of insulated, lin...