NEW DELHI — Addressing a gathering of top industry leaders at the National Defence Industries Conclave on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscored the urgent need for India to develop a comprehensive and robust drone manufacturing ecosystem. Citing the profound shifts in modern warfare observed during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Iran-Israel conflicts, Singh highlighted that drones and counter-drone technologies have transitioned from peripheral tools to central pillars of military strategy. He emphasized that for India to maintain its strategic autonomy and defense preparedness, the nation must move beyond mere assembly and achieve total self-reliance at every level of production.
The Defence Minister pointed out that the current global landscape demonstrates how quickly traditional battlefields are being transformed by autonomous systems. He noted that while many countries claim to manufacture drones, they remain heavily dependent on a “specific country” for critical components. Singh issued a clarion call to domestic defense firms and public sector undertakings to ensure that every element—from the drone’s mould and software to the engines and batteries—is researched, designed, and produced within India. This “component-level” self-reliance is viewed as the only way to safeguard India’s supply chains against external pressures and international volatility.
Beyond aerial systems, Singh touched upon the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and simulation technology. He remarked that these innovations are not just manufacturing trends but are fundamentally reshaping the capabilities of future armed forces. While acknowledging the difficulty of the task, he urged industry leaders to prioritize product quality and innovation to meet global standards. By integrating automation and AI into the defense production line, Singh believes India can catalyze a growth story that secures its borders while establishing itself as a global hub for sophisticated military hardware.
