Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth emphasized the importance of a continuous supply of military equipment for the Indian armed forces, citing the conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas as examples. He called for a stronger supply chain to meet operational requirements. Lt Gen Seth also highlighted the role of industries in the Southern Command areas in meeting future defense technology needs. He mentioned the regional technical node (RTN) and its sub-centers in Bengaluru and Chennai, stating that firms in the region would meet the forces' requirements if needed. Pune was praised for its defense industry ecosystem and its integration with the DRDO and academia.