Self-sufficiency means technological sovereignty, not just domestic production: Rajnath Singh

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addresses the two-day Delhi Defense Dialogue 2026 on ‘Atmanirbharta Defence, Cooperation and Exports’ at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyzes (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Photo credit: ANI

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday (Nov 3, 2026) that military readiness in the 21st century is intrinsically linked to technological and industrial capabilities, stressing that India’s quest for self-sufficiency must go beyond domestic production to achieve technological sovereignty.

Addressing the third edition of the Delhi Defense Dialogue 2026 at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyzes (MP-IDSA), Mr. Singh said that true self-sufficiency means having the knowledge to design defense platforms, the technology to manufacture them, the intellectual property to upgrade them and the ability to sustain them throughout their life cycle.

He described defense reforms, Aatmanirbharta, international cooperation and exports as the four interlinked pillars of India’s strategic autonomy and its ambition to become a developed nation by 2047.

“Self-sufficiency without reforms, international cooperation and exports would limit India’s technological horizons, industrial scale and global competitiveness,” he said.

Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, Mr Singh said recent conflicts have shown how battlefields are expanding beyond land, sea and air into space, cyberspace and the digital domain. The growing use of relatively cheap drones and autonomous systems challenged sophisticated and expensive military platforms, so rapid innovation, large-scale production and the ability to replenish military capabilities were equally important.

He said the government supports greater private sector participation in advanced defense programs, including Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), propulsion systems, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), artillery ammunition and shipbuilding.

Pointing to the growth of the domestic defense industry, the defense minister said production has reached a record ₹1.78 crore in 2025-26, while exports have risen to ₹38,424 crore. Indian defense products have now reached more than 80 countries.

The government has set a target of achieving ₹3 lakh in defense production and ₹50 lakh in exports by 2029, he said, calling for improvement in manufacturing capacity, product quality and global competitiveness.

Mr. Singh also emphasized the need for greater involvement of the armed forces in research and development while allowing scientists enough freedom to pursue unconventional ideas beyond immediate operational requirements.

On international partnerships, he called for a shift from procurement and licensed manufacturing to joint development, co-production and shared innovation with meaningful Indian participation in design, technology and intellectual property.

Held on November 3-4, the two-day dialogue brings together policy makers, military officials, industry representatives, academics and strategic experts from India and abroad.

Published – 03 Nov 2026 20:08 IST