Stories
Defence Secy: India Needs Partners for Tech Sovereignty, Manufacturing Alone Not Enough
- •Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh emphasized that India's pursuit of defence self-reliance requires partnerships in critical areas, as manufacturing alone cannot achieve tech sovereignty.
- •Singh highlighted that while India has achieved self-reliance in artillery, it must rely on partners for advanced technologies like jet engines.
- •He stressed that import dependence creates vulnerabilities, especially with unpredictable allies, necessitating an ecosystem of mutual dependence and multiple industry partners.
- •Singh noted a significant increase in defence orders, with Rs 2 lakh crore placed in the last two years, and called for enhancing the industrial base to meet production demands.
- •He advocated for faster procurement of emerging technologies like drones, with contracts signed within 6-8 months and deliveries within two years, and suggested greater financial delegation for the Defence Ministry.
Key Questions Answered
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that India cannot try to develop every technology domestically to achieve tech sovereignty, noting that reliance on partners is essential for complex sectors like jet engines because import dependence on unpredictable allies can create vulnerabilities.
India has opened conventional missile technology to private companies and awarded Rs 2,800 crore worth of contracts through programs like iDEX. Additionally, the government is providing suppliers with order visibility to sustain the industry since it operates as a single-buyer market.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh called for faster drone procurement with contracts signed within 6 to 8 months and deliveries within two years, while noting that proposals exceeding Rs 3,000 crore require cabinet approval and the Defence Ministry may need greater financial delegation.
