New Delhi, May 4
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has underscored the criticality of sustained focus on research and cultivating the element of surprise to stay future-ready in the present era of intense technological revolution. He was addressing defence personnel, industry captains, innovators, start-ups and academia representatives during the inaugural session of the three-day North Tech Symposium, organised by the Indian Army’s Northern & Central Commands and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh today.
Singh highlighted the explosive rate of technological change being witnessed in modern-day warfare, in addition to the emergence of the constant “never-imagined-before” element of surprise. “In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the nature of warfare transformed from tanks and missiles to game-changer drones & sensors within a span of merely three or four years. Furthermore, things which are part of day-to-day life are turning into deadly weapons. The pager attacks in Lebanon and Syria have prompted a reassessment of modern warfare methods. In such a situation, we need to be prepared,” he said.
Singh emphasised the need to adopt a proactive approach and build capabilities that enable the country, should the need arise, to launch an unexpected strike against its adversary. “History bears witness that in warfare, the decisive edge invariably belongs to the side that possesses the element of surprise. While our defence forces are already working in that direction, we must make further progress with greater proactivity,” he said.
Underlining the importance of ensuring adaptability in the present complex and rapidly evolving environment, Singh stressed that the nation that, most swiftly, adapts to the technological revolution holds the decisive edge in the future warfare landscape. He added that there’s no substitute for research in today’s world, and the manner in which future wars will be fought is being determined within the laboratories today.
Singh emphasised that the Government has placed defence research at the center of its priorities, and has endeavored to take it to the next level through DRDO. “DRDO is no longer embarking on this journey alone. Guided by the mantra ‘If you want to go far, go together’, it is marching ahead hand-in-hand with a large number of industries,” he said.
Singh pointed out that 25% of the Defence R&D budget has been allocated to the industry, academia, and start-ups, and to date, these entities have already utilised over Rs 4,500 crore of the budget. He added that a new Transfer of Technology policy has been implemented, wherein the 20% fee, levied earlier, has been completely waived off for Development-cum-Production Partners, Development Partners, and Production Agencies. As a result, DRDO has, so far, transferred over 2,200 technologies to various industries, he said.
Singh further stated that DRDO has initiated a policy granting Indian industries free access to its patents, a move that will bolster both their technological capabilities and global competitiveness. “DRDO’s testing facilities have also been opened up for the industries on a payment basis. Every year, hundreds of industries utilise these facilities for R&D support,” he said.
Singh stressed that the industries must step forward and excel in areas such as Directed Energy Weapons, Hypersonic Weapons, Underwater Domain Awareness, Space Situational Awareness, Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. He extended the Government’s full support in this endeavor.
Singh appreciated the defence forces & the industry for thoroughly analysing the evolving circumstances, and ensuring India’s preparedness, describing Operation Sindoor as a prime example of technological warfare and the nation’s readiness. “Op Sindoor demonstrated the valor and capabilities of our defence forces to the world. Cutting-edge indigenous equipment, including advanced missile systems such as Akashteer, Akash missile system & BrahMos, was used during the operation. It served as irrefutable proof that we not only understand the evolving nature of warfare but are deploying technological advancements with unwavering confidence,” he said.
Singh underlined that the Government’s self-reliance efforts are yielding positive results as the domestic defence production has reached a record high of Rs 1.54 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26, with defence exports touching an all-time high figure of Rs 38,424 crore. This rise is poised to accelerate even more, he said, adding that the private sector has made a significant contribution to this achievement. Recalling his recent visit to Germany, he said that foreign companies are expressing keen interest in forging partnerships with Indian defence firms, which is a testimony to the growing stature of the Indian defence industry in the international market.
