The drive for military self-sufficiency in India gained new momentum when Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh highlighted the need for full indigenization of the defense technology, stressing that any delays in obtaining or developing the relevant technology might make it strategically obsolete.
In his address to the industry, the Chief of Indian Air Force came up with a phrase that aptly describes the situation, saying that “technology delayed is technology denied.” This phrase signifies that the military technology loses its advantage on the battle field if it is obtained by the enemy first.
The Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasized that India needs to progress from licensing and imports into the design, development, and manufacturing of next-generation defence platforms in the country. Collaboration needs to be strengthened between the armed forces, DRDO, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), private companies, and startups to bring about innovative change and minimize dependency on foreign sources.
The Air Chief gave an extensive emphasis on unmanned platforms in his speech. The experience from recent wars has shown that drones and other unmanned platforms have revolutionized warfare because of the enhanced ability to surveil and strike with precision and endurance without risking personnel. The Air Chief stated that the need of the hour is to develop indigenous unmanned aerial systems.
Air Chief Marshal Singh’s message serves as a reminder that in an era defined by artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and network-centric warfare, speed of innovation is as critical as technological excellence. For India, the challenge is no longer whether to indigenise, but how quickly it can transform innovation into operational capability before the technological advantage slips away.
He went on to say that self-reliance is not only an economic but a strategic need. Being dependent on foreign suppliers makes countries susceptible to supply chain disruptions, embargo, and geopolitical instability during periods of conflict. Self-sufficiently, he emphasized, will not only help be ready for operations but also will ensure the creation of a strong indigenous defence industrial base.
The vision of the Indian Air Force is in line with India’s mission of attaining defence self-sufficiency through its ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. The services are increasingly looking towards indigenous fighters, sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, AI-enabled systems, and unmanned combat aerial vehicles of the future.
