Self-reliance means technological sovereignty, not just indigenous manufacturing: Rajnath Singh

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses the Two-Day Delhi Defence Dialogue 2026 on 'Defence Atmanirbharta, Collaborations and Exports' at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP- IDSA), in New Delhi on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) said military preparedness in the 21st century was intrinsically linked to technological and industrial capabilities, emphasising that India’s pursuit of self-reliance must go beyond indigenous manufacturing to achieving technological sovereignty.

Addressing the third edition of the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2026 at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), Mr. Singh said true self-reliance meant possessing the knowledge to design defence platforms, the technology to manufacture them, intellectual property to upgrade them and the capability to sustain them throughout their lifecycle.

He described defence reforms, Aatmanirbharta, international collaborations and exports as four interconnected pillars of India’s strategic autonomy and its ambition to become a developed nation by 2047.

“Self-reliance without reforms, international collaborations and exports would limit India’s technological horizons, industrial scale and global competitiveness,” he said.

Highlighting the changing character of warfare, Mr. Singh said recent conflicts had demonstrated how battlefields were expanding beyond land, sea and air into space, cyberspace and the digital domain. The growing use of relatively inexpensive drones and autonomous systems was challenging sophisticated and costly military platforms, making rapid innovation, large-scale manufacturing and the ability to replenish military capabilities equally important.

He said the government was encouraging greater private sector participation in advanced defence programmes, including the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), propulsion systems, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), artillery ammunition and shipbuilding.

Pointing to the growth of the domestic defence industry, the Defence Minister said production had reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, while exports rose to ₹38,424 crore. Indian defence products were now reaching more than 80 countries.

The government has set a target of achieving ₹3 lakh crore in defence production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029, he said, calling for improvements in manufacturing capacity, product quality and global competitiveness.

Mr. Singh also stressed the need for greater involvement of the armed forces in research and development while allowing scientists sufficient freedom to pursue unconventional ideas beyond immediate operational requirements.

On international partnerships, he called for moving beyond procurement and licensed manufacturing towards co-development, co-production and shared innovation, with meaningful Indian participation in design, technology and intellectual property.

The two-day dialogue, being held on November 3 and 4, brings together policymakers, military officials, industry representatives, academics and strategic experts from India and abroad.

military equipment / technology (general) / science and technology / armed conflict / armed Forces