Stories
Geopolitical Shifts & Operation Sindoor Reshape India's Defence Needs: Defence Secretary
- •Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that Operation Sindoor and broader geopolitical developments have altered India's defence requirements.
- •Recent conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine and Iran-US conflicts, highlight the growing importance of asymmetric capabilities and the prohibitive cost of war.
- •Emergency procurement of drones, counter-drones, electronic warfare systems, and radars followed Operation Sindoor.
- •Singh emphasized that import dependence creates vulnerability, stressing the need to develop an indigenous ecosystem and mutual dependence.
- •While India has achieved artillery capability, it requires partners for advanced areas like jet engines, acknowledging that complete self-sufficiency in manufacturing is not feasible.
Key Questions Answered
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh noted that Operation Sindoor and wider geopolitical developments altered India's defense demands, highlighting an increased need for asymmetric capabilities like drones, counter-drones, electronic warfare systems, and radars procured through emergency measures. Furthermore, lessons from the Russia-Ukraine and Iran-US conflicts showed that low-cost missiles can necessitate expensive weapons, creating a prohibitive cost of war.
Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that import dependence is a vulnerability that poses risks if an ally proves unpredictable, necessitating the creation of a domestic ecosystem and a cycle of mutual dependence. He emphasized that manufacturing cannot completely grant tech sovereignty, and while India has achieved artillery capability, it still requires foreign partners for components like jet engines.
Following Operation Sindoor, India utilized and emergency-procured various advanced tactical systems, including drones, counter-drones, electronic warfare systems, and radars, to address shifting strategic needs. Additionally, the operation highlighted the critical importance of persistent surveillance, precision-guided weapons, loitering munitions, and rapid-response capabilities.
