International Defense, Security & Technology (IDST) is a California-based nonprofit public benefit corporation and a federally recognized 501(c)(3) organization (IRS recognition since May 18, 2020). Headquartered in Newark, California, IDST exists to advance understanding of global security, defense systems, and critical technologies through rigorous research, analysis, and public intelligence dissemination.
IDST maintains active compliance with the California Secretary of State and is led by Rajesh Kumar Uppal, with Shivi Uppal and Sonia Uppal serving as key officers.
From Think Tank to Intelligence Network
IDST was founded on a simple but ambitious idea:
modern security challenges cannot be understood through isolated disciplines or daily news cycles.
Over time, this idea evolved into something more structured and scalable — an intelligence network of interconnected magazines, each focused on a critical domain shaping future security and power.
Rather than operating as a traditional blog or single-topic think tank, IDST is organized as a knowledge architecture, where strategy, technology, industry, science, and risk are analyzed both independently and as part of a larger system.
The IDST Intelligence Magazine Model
Each IDST magazine represents a strategic layer of analysis, not just a content category. Together, they form a continuously updated intelligence ecosystem covering:
- Strategy, policy, and governance
- Defense and military systems across all domains
- Cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and counter-intelligence
- Critical and emerging technologies
- Autonomous, energy, and infrastructure systems
- Industry, markets, and supply chains
- Science, engineering, and applied research
- Analysis, reviews, and explanatory intelligence
This modular structure allows readers to explore deep specialization while still understanding how domains interact — a necessity in modern security environments.
How We Analyze: A Dual-Lens Intelligence Approach
IDST combines two complementary analytical perspectives:
Top-Down Strategic Analysis
We examine geopolitics, doctrine, policy, risk environments, and future conflict scenarios to identify strategic needs, capability gaps, and long-term trends.
Bottom-Up Technology & Systems Analysis
We track emerging and applied technologies — from laboratories to prototypes to deployment — assessing readiness, constraints, and real operational relevance.
By synthesizing these lenses, IDST focuses not on hype or speculation, but on technologies and systems that materially shape future security outcomes.
Intelligence Briefings & Public Knowledge
At the core of IDST is its Intelligence Briefings framework, designed to serve multiple audiences:
- Open intelligence for public understanding
- Signal-level analysis for informed readers
- Deep analytical content for professionals and institutions
Our philosophy is deliberate:
- Magazine philosophy, structure, and videos remain openly accessible
- Full analytical articles are reserved for members, ensuring sustainability