The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that Operation Sindoor demonstrated how indigenous defence systems are strengthening India’s operational readiness, highlighting the critical role played by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in advancing self-reliance in the defence sector.
Addressing DRDO’s best-performing scientists and technical personnel—who attended the 77th Republic Day Parade as special guests—the Defence Minister said DRDO-developed technologies were effectively deployed during the operation, underscoring the organisation’s contribution to battlefield preparedness and the rapid transformation of India’s defence capabilities.
According to a Ministry of Defence release, Singh emphasised the need to stay ahead in a technology-driven world by accelerating research and development. He urged scientists to innovate quickly and take calculated risks, noting that technological relevance on the battlefield is increasingly determined by speed.
“Technology is changing rapidly. What is new today may become irrelevant in four to five years. In today’s battlefield environment, we must focus on the ‘survival of the fastest’, not just the ‘survival of the fittest’. Nations that think, decide, and deploy technology quickly remain ahead,” he said.
The Defence Minister called on DRDO to move beyond areas where the private sector has already built capacity and suggested creating a dedicated wing to pursue high-risk research projects with transformative potential. He stressed that reducing the time taken from research to prototyping, testing, and deployment should be a key performance indicator, asserting that timely induction into the Armed Forces must remain the primary objective.
Singh also highlighted the need to bridge the gap between design and production, advocating a co-development model in which industry partners are involved from the early stages. Citing the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as a successful example of collaboration between DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, he urged deeper engagement with public sector units, private industry, MSMEs, start-ups, and academia.
“Government support will be truly effective only when DRDO moves away from a monopolistic R&D approach and builds a collaborative ecosystem,” he said, adding that such cooperation is essential to achieving the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Referring to India’s growing defence exports, Singh noted that exports have risen from less than ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to approximately ₹24,000 crore today. He said the government has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029–30 and urged DRDO to factor in export potential at the design stage, particularly for drones, radars, electronic warfare systems, and ammunition.
The Defence Minister expressed confidence that DRDO would play a vital role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and described scientists, engineers, and technicians as the organisation’s greatest strength. He emphasised the importance of continuous learning, leadership opportunities, and an environment where innovative ideas are encouraged, acknowledging that failures are an inherent part of research.
The event was organised to honour scientists, technical experts, and innovators under the DRDO Award Scheme 2024, with Singh presenting awards to the recipients. On the occasion, a book titled “The Unprecedented Success Story of the First Indigenous Supersonic Multi-Target Surface-to-Air Missile System – AKASH” was released, chronicling the missile system’s journey from conception to operational success and highlighting DRDO’s scientific and strategic achievements.
