Building Shakti microprocessor was not about engineering, but trust: Kamakoti

indiatoday.in Sep 30, 2026

Building Shakti microprocessor was not about engineering, but trust: Kamakoti

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 30, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

India’s Shakti microprocessor, developed by a team at IIT Madras, reached production after years of doubt, according to institute director V. Kamakoti. In a India Today Digital interview, Kamakoti said the greatest obstacle was not the technical design but convincing stakeholders that the chip would function reliably. He described a prolonged “trust gap” that followed the project’s announcement, during which investors, government agencies and potential users remained skeptical. The effort required extensive validation, transparent testing and alignment with national security and defence priorities. Shakti now aims to replace imported processors in smartphones, satellites and military systems, marking the first domestically‑designed silicon core to move beyond laboratory prototypes in India and to foster an indigenous semiconductor ecosystem for future growth globally competitively.

💡 Why It Matters

· Overcoming trust barriers proves India can field homegrown silicon, a prerequisite for strategic autonomy in critical technology.

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Teknofest opens doors with firsts in southeast edition

The southeastern edition of Turkey’s flagship aerospace and technology festival, Teknofest, opened on Sept. 30 at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, covering 191,000 sq m. Organized by the Industry and Technology Ministry, the T3 Foundation and STM Defense Technologies, the event blends the region’s Neolithic heritage with cutting‑edge defense and agri‑tech showcases. Highlights include the Göbeklitepe Experience Area with 360‑degree screens, the 2027 Multifunctional Advanced Materials and Systems Competition for university teams, and the “Journey of Material” exhibition tracing material evolution. The Hezarfen Experience Area links historic flight aspirations to modern aviation, while the HÜRKUŞ Mini Flight track offers pedal‑plane rides for young children. A new 3,200‑sq m TÜME zone gathers AI‑driven farm systems, robotics, drones and investor‑startup interactions, underscoring Teknofest’s shift toward regional innovation ecosystems.

💡 By anchoring high‑tech displays in a historically rich locale, Teknofest is turning Şanlıurfa into a catalyst for homegrown engineering talent and investment outside Turkey’s traditional tech hubs.

spacenews.com · Sep 29

Commercial Defense Satcom Service Revenues to Surpass $22.6B by 2035

Novaspace’s second‑edition report projects commercial satellite‑for‑defense revenues to exceed $22.6 billion by 2035, with global defense Satcom demand surpassing 7.5 Tbps. Growth is driven by next‑generation non‑geostationary orbit (NGSO) constellations, which offer low latency and resilience against jamming and kinetic attacks. While GEO revenues decline, capacity demand triples, underscoring its role in hybrid networks. The United States will dominate the market, holding over 50 % of demand and revenue, followed by China at roughly 30 %.

💡 The shift to multi‑orbit connectivity signals a strategic overhaul of military communications, reshaping procurement and operational planning worldwide.

techcrunch.com · Sep 29

Protego Ventures closes debut $125 million fund for Israeli defense tech

Protego Ventures, a two‑year‑old Israeli venture firm focused exclusively on defense technology, has closed its debut fund with $125 million in commitments, according to an exclusive TechCrunch report. Led by veterans Lital Leshem and Lee Moser, the fund will back startups tackling Israel’s and global security challenges, allocating $5‑$50 million per company. Its first investment, drone maker XTEND, listed on the NYSE in early June and is projected to return the entire fund, prompting Protego to cap fundraising at $125 million rather than the $150 million target. Ares Management contributed $30 million as a limited partner, while other portfolio companies include situational‑awareness firm ASIO. The founders cite the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks as the catalyst for creating a dedicated defense‑tech VC, and they plan a second fund in early 2027 with additional Israeli and U.S. backing.

💡 A single successful exit could fully fund Protego’s investors, proving that focused defense‑tech capital can generate outsized returns and encouraging more private money into Israel’s security ecosystem.

taipeitimes.com · Sep 29

Ubiquitous drones

At the Drone Expo in New Delhi, UAS Glory Air showcased a new Russian drone model to visitors, highlighting the company’s growing presence in the global UAV market. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials in Philadelphia and New York signaled that further interest‑rate hikes may be necessary to bring inflation back to the 2 percent target, echoing a broader policy shift. In Taiwan, the Nuclear Safety Commission approved a preliminary plan to restart the Ma‑anshan Nuclear Power Plant, potentially as early as 2028, marking a reversal of the ruling party’s anti‑nuclear stance. GlobalFoundries announced plans to expand RF chip production in Singapore and Taiwan to meet AI‑driven demand, while Taiwan’s economy faces a widening K‑shaped divide between booming tech sectors and lagging traditional industries.

💡 The drone exhibit underscores Russia’s expanding influence in civilian UAV technology, a sector increasingly tied to national security. Taiwan’s nuclear restart signals a strategic pivot toward energy independence amid global supply chain pressures.

semiconductor-digest.com · Sep 29

U.S. Government Selects Navitas to Develop Next-Generation 10 kV SiC Power Semiconductors

Navitas Semiconductor has been awarded the U.S. Army’s ALATTIS program to create a domestic manufacturing process for ultra‑high‑voltage (≥10 kV) silicon‑carbide (SiC) insulated‑gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and associated PiN diodes. After a competitive review, the Army selected Navitas for its proven UHV SiC track record, defense‑grade reliability, and a resilient U.S.–based supply chain. The ALATTIS prototype project, funded by the Army Research Laboratory and supported by the Joint Experimentation and Technology Accelerator, will iterate design, fabrication, and testing to validate the novel 10 kV SiC IGBT technology. Navitas’ GeneSiC portfolio already spans 650 V to 6.5 kV devices, and the award expands its leadership from MOSFETs to next‑generation IGBTs for critical defense and infrastructure systems.

💡 Delivering a home‑grown 10 kV SiC IGBT removes a strategic technology gap, giving the U.S. military and critical grids a secure, high‑power semiconductor source.

thequantuminsider.com · Sep 28

Quantum Cyber’s Strategic Focus Includes Quantum Navigation

Quantum Cyber, a Nasdaq-listed autonomous defense firm, announced a sharpened strategy focused on GPS‑deficient warfare. The company will concentrate on three pillars: one‑way attack drones and interceptors, its licensed quantum antenna for unjammable navigation, communications, and power, and the MAHCA swarm‑control OS. Production is centered at a 50,000‑sq‑ft Bridgeport, Connecticut facility, where an 80‑unit 3D printing farm began operating on August 31, 2026, with a target annual output of 100,000 drones. The firm targets border patrol, defense UAS, law enforcement, and quantum navigation markets.

💡 By prioritizing GPS‑independent autonomy, Quantum Cyber positions itself to meet the growing demand for resilient defense systems in contested environments, potentially reshaping how militaries and security agencies deploy unmanned platforms.