Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
SAYING THAT some countries were resorting to protectionism on disruptive technologies, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday India was challenging these limitations and that the country was capable of becoming self-reliant in any field. He also said India was not only meeting its own needs but also becoming a trusted defence partner for the world.
“The scope of cutting-edge tech is very restricted. Sometimes, some countries resort to protectionism when it comes to disruptive technologies. Sometimes, they do not share information with other countries. India has challenged these limitations. We have shown that if our intentions are clear and policies are unambiguous, we can become self-reliant in any field. Today, India is not only meeting its own needs, but is also becoming a trusted defence partner for the world,” he said.
Singh made the remarks during a visit of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE) cluster. During the visit, the committee inspected the state-of-the-art products developed by different laboratories of the cluster. Products demonstrated included the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, Pinaka Rocket System, Light Tank Zorawar, Wheeled Armoured Platform and Akash-New Generation missile.
Officials said the committee was apprised of the status of the technologies being developed in the fields of robotics, rail gun, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, High-Energy Propulsion Materials etc. A detailed future roadmap of the ACE cluster was also presented on the occasion.
Addressing officials on the theme ‘Emerging Technologies and DRDO’, Singh stressed on the need to understand and adapt to the transformation taking place in the defence sector and the evolving nature of warfare. He termed advanced technologies as a necessity in the rapidly changing world, voicing the government’s commitment to integrating this necessity into the security apparatus.
“Today is an era of technological dominance. Nations that prioritise science and innovation will lead the future. Technology is no longer limited to labs; it has become the foundation of our strategic decisions, defence system and future policies. Our goal is not only to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence, but also to develop a culture that inspires future generations and establishes India as a global defence innovation hub,” an MoD release quoted Singh as saying.
“DRDO, public sector enterprises, private industries, startups and academia are together setting new benchmarks in defence innovation. Our youth are continuously making breakthroughs in areas like Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, robotics, quantum communication and space technology. India is becoming a technology leader due to the hard work and talent of our people. Emerging technologies not only modernise the forces but also open up new opportunities for the youth,” the release quoted Singh as saying.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat and other senior MoD officials attended the meeting. DG (ACE) and DRDO lab directors and scientists of the cluster were also present.
