New Delhi: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh on Thursday called for accelerated indigenous development of advanced defence technologies, stressing that delays in innovation could weaken India’s strategic capabilities. He said achieving complete self reliance in critical military systems is essential to strengthening national security.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi, the Air Force Chief underscored the importance of building unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies entirely within the country.
Emphasising the need for timely innovation, he said, “Technology delayed is technology denied,” warning that technologies developed too late lose their strategic value as adversaries continue to advance.
Air Chief Marshal Singh highlighted the growing role of drones in modern warfare and stressed the need for seamless integration between manned aircraft and unmanned aerial systems operating in the same airspace. He said coordinated planning, situational awareness and effective control mechanisms are essential to prevent operational errors, including incidents involving friendly drones.
He also revealed that discussions are underway between the Indian Air Force, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other government agencies to develop systems capable of identifying authorised drones and distinguishing them from rogue aircraft. Such measures, he said, would help eliminate the risk of friendly assets being mistakenly targeted.
Calling for true self reliance, the Air Force Chief said every component used in defence platforms should be designed and manufactured in India. Dependence on imported parts, he cautioned, leaves the country vulnerable to supply chain disruptions during critical situations.
He also stressed the importance of converting laboratory research into operational capabilities, noting that technological breakthroughs have little value unless they are rapidly deployed for military use.
Highlighting the challenges in developing next generation defence technologies, Air Chief Marshal Singh called for a whole of nation approach involving the armed forces, defence industry, researchers, academia, regulators, investors and quality assurance agencies.
He further emphasised the need to develop indigenous cyber security systems, sovereign digital infrastructure, secure data storage and Indian AI algorithms to strengthen the country’s long term defence preparedness and technological independence.
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