A significant part of the globe is engaged currently in conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, as also prospectively in the Pacific. Even as the conflicts simmer, glaring inadequacies have come to light in the military–industrial complexes (MICs) of nations as diverse as the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Germany and wider Europe. Readiness is being reviewed and stockpile levels are being revamped with a renewed sense of urgency, driven by the realisation that what wins wars is not #hashtags and online aggression, but cold military steel. This commentary seeks to underline the key lessons in this regard, for possible adoption in the Indian context.