Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has highlighted the need for a structured policy framework to strengthen India’s domestic industrial base by fostering balanced collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘Strategic Insight Conference on Indigenous Development of Critical Technologies for Air Power’ organised by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS) in New Delhi, he highlighted that diversifying the industrial base would end monopolies, improve ease of doing business, and drive innovation across the defence ecosystem.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to Aatmanirbharta in defence, underlining the importance of developing advanced aero technologies, conducting field evaluation trials, and creating long-range air-to-air missile systems to enhance India’s air power capabilities.
In his special address, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari highlighted the decisive role of air power in strategic operations, citing Operation Sindoor as an example. He stressed that while indigenous aircraft design and development are crucial, India must also build expertise in electronic warfare, advanced sensors, radars, and data link systems.
Keynote speaker Dr K Rajalakshmi Menon, Director General, AERO, DRDO, discussed the transformative potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), multi-sensor fusion, and artificial intelligence in air operations. She also spoke about advancements in stealth technology, aerostats, airships with enhanced sensors, and the integration of quantum, photonic, and blockchain technologies into defence systems.
Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Anil Golani, Director General of CAPSS, highlighted the importance of technological self-reliance amid evolving security challenges and regional competition. He stressed that artificial intelligence, advanced avionics, and next-generation propulsion systems, including intelligent control propulsion, super-cruise capability, and fly-by-light systems, will be critical to India’s future aerospace dominance. As part of the event, Defence Secretary Singh also released the book ‘Asian Defence Review 2025: Geo-political Shifts and Strategic Partnership Multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific’. |
