Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan emphasized the crucial role of self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities in ensuring India’s long-term peace and security. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Defence Partnership Days in New Delhi, Gen Chauhan underlined that India’s progress as a global power hinges on a robust and self-sustaining defence sector. The event, co-organized by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and the Indian Military Review, was inaugurated by the CDS alongside Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production.
The CDS said, “Today, India is at the centre stage of global optimism. We have become the fifth largest economy in the world. As we march ahead on the path of progress and prosperity, we believe that self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities are the foundations to enduring peace. India’s security landscape necessitates a robust and self-reliant defence sector.”
Gen Anil Chauhan underscored that a common thread that binds all stakeholders is National Interest. The whole enterprise of indigenisation will not succeed if the glue of National Interest does not bind all the elements, he said.
Talking about various reforms and initiatives by the Government in the defence sector, Gen Anil Chauhan said, “India has opened up its defence industry through reforms. It has opened it up for private industry, joint ventures, FDI, etc. But, we are yet to fully open up our minds. To really succeed, we will have to imbibe the ‘4I’s and be – innovative, inventive, indigenous and imaginative.”
Stating that the investments in defence manufacturing takes time to accrue returns, and the time gap in defence R & D is even longer, and also the outcome can also be uncertain, CDS suggested that the Defence Bank with earlier loan terms can be one option, in addition to funding in projects like iDEX and TDF.
He also suggested formulation of defence policies in emerging technologies like space, AI, quantum and autonomous systems that give direction to the industry as to how the services see the future unfolding.
Over 200 companies and 100 officers from the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces, dealing with technology and procurement are participating in the two-day event. The event is designed to bring together government and business stakeholders, and to facilitate strategic engagements through a series of targeted business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) meetings. On the sidelines of the event, an exhibition by 75 companies is being organized to showcase what the industry has to offer for building the nation’s defence capabilities.
