“Self-reliance has become a national mindset, DRDO is playing a key role in rapid transformation of defence sector”

To stay ahead of the curve in the present technology-driven world, Raksha Mantri stressed on the need to focus on R&D, exhorting the DRDO scientists to think innovatively & quickly, while not being afraid of taking risks. “Technology is changing rapidly. Any tech that is new today may become irrelevant in 4-5 years. Therefore, in today’s times, especially on the battlefield, we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of ‘survival of the fastest’ and not just ‘survival of the fittest’. The country that thinks, decides & deploys technology quickly stays ahead,” he said.

            Shri Rajnath Singh urged the DRDO to move beyond the sectors where the private sector has already developed its capabilities, suggesting the creation of a separate wing within the organisation that takes risks in sectors where the chances of success may seem low. However, if success is achieved, it will be historic, he added.

            Underscoring the importance of reducing the time between research and prototype, prototype to testing, and testing to deployment, Raksha Mantri asserted that “timely induction in the Armed Forces should be the biggest parameter of our performance”. He pointed out that the DRDO usually focuses on design and prototyping, and production is the role of industries, emphasising that it is necessary to bridge this gap. He stated that, similar to international models, a co-development approach can be adopted, where the industry is involved from the early stages, from design to production.

Calling upon the DRDO to collaborate extensively with public sector undertakings and the private sector, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the time has come to move beyond conventional areas. “For example, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which has emerged as a major achievement for us, is a testament to the knowledge sharing between DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Many more such achievements await us, but for that, it is essential that DRDO collaborates with academia and share knowledge with the public and private sectors. Government’s support will only be meaningful when DRDO moves away from a monopolistic R&D model to a collaborative ecosystem, and cooperates with the public sector, private industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and academia. Only then will we be able to make big strides towards an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said.

            Raksha Mantri added that the due to the Government’s self-reliance efforts, the defence exports, which were less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014, have today increased to a record approx. Rs 24,000 crore, and stressed that there is a need to increase it further. “We have set a defence exports target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30. DRDO should consider export markets right from the design stage of its systems, especially focusing on drones, radars, electronic warfare systems, and ammunition. Focusing on exports leads to cost recovery, builds global credibility, and strengthens strategic partnerships,” he said. He exuded confidence that DRDO will play a significant role in building Viksit Bharat by 2047.