Drones, AI and Electronic Warfare ft. Commodore Srikant Kesnur

Описание: Meet the Host: Sampada Vaze brings together years of on-camera experience as a model, actor, and host with a strong business background, creating Unscripted with Sampada Vaze as a space for honest, thoughtful conversations that go deeper than what the spotlight usually reveals.

The Indian Navy is doing something most people have no clue about — it’s becoming one of the biggest engines for India’s tech and startup ecosystem.

In this conversation, Sampada Vaze sits down with Commodore Srikant Kesnur (Indian Navy Veteran) to uncover how naval innovation, indigenous shipbuilding, AI adoption, drone operations, and massive MSME involvement are quietly shaping India’s next generation of billion-dollar startups.

From operating warships and UAVs to negotiating during peak piracy in East Africa, to mentoring industry and supporting Indian startups — Commodore Srikant Kesnur breaks down an entirely different side of the Navy that the public rarely sees.

If you’re into technology, defense, entrepreneurship or India’s startup story, this episode will open your eyes.

Timestamps: -

(00:00) - Intro — Why the Navy matters in peace & war
(00:21) - Guest intro — Commodore Srikant Kesnur (service highlights)
(01:15) - Commands: INS Vindhyagiri & INS Jalashwa explained
(02:22) - What is a drone/UAV — definition and basics
(03:35) - First operational drone experiments at sea
(04:09) - How drones extend naval surveillance at sea
(05:12) - The Navy’s peacetime role: piracy, smuggling, policing seas
(07:27) - INS Jalashwa — amphibious ship capabilities & scale
(09:30) - Commanding people — privilege, spirit & ship awards
(11:00) - Ship types explained: carriers, destroyers, frigates
(12:57) - Submarines — stealth, role and psychological effect
(15:00) - Amphibious ships, mines, patrol vessels — roles broken down
(18:23) - Submarine life: cramped spaces, hot-bunking, medical risks
(22:00) - East Africa posting — Nairobi base & area of responsibility
(23:53) - Piracy peak (2008–2012) — negotiating & rescue role
(27:44) - PhD & strengthening India–East Africa defense ties
(28:36) - Navy & Make in India — shipbuilding history since 1960
(31:29) - India building carriers & nuclear subs — scale & timeline
(32:43) - MSMEs & INS Vikrant — industrial ecosystem impact
(33:33) - Navy → Startups: why the Navy moved into innovation
(34:58) - NIIO & Swavlamban — how startups can pitch & get support
(36:22) - Funding, mentoring, prototyping & manufacturer link-ups
(37:53) - AI in defense — speed, logistics, limits & risks
(40:37) - Civil–military fusion — academia, IITs, labs & industry ties
(41:50) - The Navy as storyteller — hidden achievers & culture
(43:13) - Commodore Paulraj — MIMO and smartphone tech roots
(44:45) - Captain Mohan Ram — ship design to TVS Scooty story
(46:28) - Advice to aspirants — what to expect from a Navy career
(49:38) - Final reflections — transformation, camaraderie, service
(50:28) - Outro & CTA — like, share, subscribe

What you’ll learn

How the Indian Navy pioneered drone operations at sea
What really happens inside submarines and amphibious ships
The Navy’s role in Make in India & indigenous shipbuilding
How NIIO & Swavlamban support deep-tech startups
The hidden connection between naval innovation and billion-dollar ideas
Why founders should learn from the Navy’s approach to tech
India’s maritime security, piracy, and global presence
Advice for young Indians wanting to join the Armed Forces

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