Speaking at the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) 41st directors’ conference in Delhi yesterday, COAS Bipin Rawat stated that India will fight and win the future wars with indigenously produced weapons and systems.
As per reports, the COAS highlighted the need to focus on non-contact warfare and stated, “We are looking at systems for future warfare. We have to start looking at the development of cyber, space, laser, electronic and robotic technologies and artificial intelligence.”
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The COAS stated that even after 70 years of independence, we are one of the largest importers of arms and ammunition in the world and this is not a very proud statement to make. He further added that in the last few years, DRDO has achieved a lot in defence innovation and production.
Home minister Rajnath Singh too, addressing the same event, asked the scientists to develop cutting edge technologies to make India not only self-sufficient but also a global leader in defence manufacturing.
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Rajnath Singh also asked the scientists to develop products that will stay relevant for the next 15-20 years. “There are certain limitations in technology and there is a gestation period for the development of products. It is possible that during the gestation period of complex systems, new technical requirements emerge. Spiral development should be given priority for such systems,” said the Defence Minister.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval addressed the scientists too. Emphasising on the need to become the ‘winner’ and not the ‘runner up’ in defence technology, the NSA stated, “India’s security vulnerabilities are much greater today and they are going to be much greater in the times to come.”
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Doval also stated that technology and finance are the two fields that influence geopolitics the most and the nations that have dominance in these two fields will win future conflicts.
“The armies that were better equipped always called the shots and decided the destiny of mankind. They were always the one which had higher technologies. India’s own historical experience on this has been sad, we were the runner-up. There is no trophy for the runner up,” said the National Security Adviser.