New Delhi, Oct 26 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday called for a new phase of self-reliance in the defence sector, stressing the need to develop advanced indigenous technologies, strengthen research and development (R&D), and build resilient domestic supply chains to reduce import dependence.
Addressing the fifth edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, SWAVLAMBAN 5.0, here, Singh said the next phase of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ must focus on cost-effective, technologically advanced and globally competitive products to achieve technological superiority and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
He said the progress made in defence indigenisation over the past decade had laid a strong foundation for the next phase, which would require India to pursue more ambitious technological goals.
Singh emphasised that supply chain management was not merely a technical issue but a strategic imperative directly linked to national security. He called for a time-bound roadmap identifying critical technologies, industries and resources required to achieve self-reliance in key areas.
He also stressed the need to assess potential disruptions in supply routes in advance and strengthen domestic production capabilities and buffer stocks, particularly in areas where India remains dependent on imports for raw materials and specialised technologies.
While some external dependencies may continue until viable domestic alternatives become available, critical areas must be prioritised for indigenisation, he said.
Highlighting the importance of research and innovation, the defence minister said India needed to create an ecosystem that supports high-risk, high-reward projects and encourages greater private sector participation in defence R&D.
He said failure was an inherent part of the research process and called for a change in attitude towards unsuccessful experiments, noting that countries with advanced research ecosystems also experience failures while developing new technologies.
Singh stressed the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration, greater encouragement for research in educational institutions and more opportunities for young people to pursue careers in innovation and advanced technology development.
He also called for greater emphasis on low-cost technologies, saying smaller-scale experiments could help achieve significant results while reducing the risks associated with research.
Highlighting the contribution of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, Singh said more than 4,000 proposals had been received against 229 challenges issued by the Indian Navy, reflecting the growing participation of Indian start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in defence innovation.
He said start-ups and MSMEs had developed indigenous solutions in areas such as naval systems, sensors, communications and other critical technologies, helping address operational requirements that were previously met through imports.
The government had ensured that a lack of funding did not become an obstacle to the aspirations of talented young innovators, Singh said, adding that naval contracts worth more than Rs 1,900 crore demonstrated tangible progress in translating indigenous innovations into procurement outcomes.
He called for addressing the remaining areas of import dependence, particularly buyer-nominated equipment, to further strengthen the Indian Navy’s self-reliance.
With demand for naval ships increasing amid the evolving security environment in the Indian Ocean Region, Singh said efforts were needed to reduce construction costs while expanding domestic production.
He said the next phase of defence self-reliance must focus not only on the quantity of indigenous products but also on their quality, operational efficiency and affordability.
Singh also called for a ‘Dual Technology Roadmap’ to identify and prioritise technologies that could serve both civilian and military requirements.
He said the scope of indigenisation should extend beyond existing positive indigenisation lists to cover technologies and products required for civil and military shipping.
Technologies that could be used across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard should also be identified, he said, describing this as an important step towards inter-service jointness and a broader approach to technological self-reliance.
The defence minister highlighted the importance of developing capabilities in quantum technologies, artificial intelligence in warfare and uncrewed systems, saying such advanced technologies required sustained collaboration between the armed forces, industry and academic institutions.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said the SWAVLAMBAN initiative had expanded significantly since its launch in 2022, with Navy-specific iDEX challenges increasing from 20 to 229, accounting for around 35 per cent of all iDEX challenges in the defence sector.
He said 41 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) cases worth more than Rs 3,500 crore had been accorded, while 25 contracts valued at over Rs 1,900 crore had been signed.
Swaminathan identified ideation, prototyping, testing, contracting and induction, and life-cycle support as key areas for accelerating the development of indigenous defence capabilities.
He called for stronger collaboration among the Navy, industry, start-ups and MSMEs to speed up the development and induction of indigenous technologies.
Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar said SWAVLAMBAN 5.0 provided a common platform for stakeholders to discuss emerging technologies, evolving operational requirements and opportunities to expand domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The theme of this year’s seminar is ‘Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation’.
Kumar called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen national security and the domestic defence ecosystem, adding that the Navy had made a significant contribution to the success of the iDEX initiative.
During the event, Singh visited a technology exhibition featuring more than 100 stalls set up by start-ups and MSMEs and interacted with innovators working on naval requirements.
The exhibition showcased indigenous developments in autonomous maritime platforms, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, persistent surveillance, resilient navigation, advanced communications and counter-drone systems.
Singh also released the ‘Compendium of Technology Imperatives, Problem Statements and Future Concepts’ and the ‘SWAVLAMBAN 5.0’ document, aimed at providing industry with greater visibility into the Navy’s technological priorities and development opportunities.
He felicitated eminent speakers and iDEX innovators for their contributions to India’s defence capabilities.
The two-day seminar, organised by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the Defence Innovation Organisation and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, is being held at the Manekshaw Centre here on October 26 and 27.
The event features discussions on emerging technologies, including quantum systems, artificial intelligence, autonomous platforms and hypersonic technologies, with a focus on their potential applications in future warfare and naval operations.
Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and other senior military officials, defence industry representatives, academics and iDEX awardees attended the event.—(NVI)
