New Delhi, November 3: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the changing nature of warfare demands stronger technological and industrial capabilities, with military operations now reaching beyond land, sea and air into space, cyberspace and the digital domain.
Addressing the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2026, Singh said recent conflicts had shown how rapidly battlefields were changing. He noted that relatively inexpensive drones and autonomous systems could challenge sophisticated military equipment, making rapid innovation and large-scale production increasingly important.
Singh said India’s pursuit of defence self-reliance must ensure that critical military requirements are protected from external dependencies. This requires the ability to design equipment, manufacture it, improve its technology and maintain it throughout its operational life.
He also stressed that domestic capability must grow alongside defence reforms, international collaboration and exports. Partnerships can support access to advanced technology, while exports can help Indian manufacturers expand production and compete globally.
The minister called for closer cooperation among the armed forces, scientists, industry and academic institutions. India’s ambition, he said, should include creating defence technologies and contributing to international development programmes.
He emphasised that military readiness increasingly depends on a country’s ability to develop and produce essential equipment and sustain its capabilities independently.
