India embracing 'adaptive defence' to counter evolving threats, says Defence Minister Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the Central Government was committed to having an ‘adaptive’ approach to counter real-time security challenges that the country faced.

Being ‘adaptive’ in terms of the defence of the nation was not merely a strategic choice but a necessity in today’s fast-paced world, the minister said. An ‘adaptive’ approach in defence meant a nation’s military and defence mechanisms were continuously evolving to counter emerging threats, he said, adding that it was not merely responding to what had happened but anticipating what could and preparing for it.

The Defence Minister was speaking at the inaugural event of the Delhi Defence Dialogue (DDD), hosted by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA).

Rajnath said, “We should be prepared for all future contingencies. It is more than just protecting our borders; it is about securing our future.” The traditional notions of war are being reshaped by emerging technologies and evolving strategic partnerships, with new perspectives, doctrines, and concepts of operations emerging, he added.

Rajnath cited how drones and swarm technologies were bringing fundamental changes in the ways and means of warfare. Keeping with the changing nature of threats and challenges, he termed the present age of warfare as an age of ‘grey zone and hybrid warfare’, where traditional ways of defending were being challenged. Continuous adaptation was the best strategy to deal with the emerging challenges, he said.

This includes creating situational awareness, having flexibility at strategic and tactical levels, and being resilient and agile. All the while integrating futuristic technologies.

The Union Government was committed to keeping India among the leading countries, working on emerging technologies in cyberspace and artificial intelligence (AI), the minister said.

Rajnath Singh said it was the Modi-led government’s unwavering resolve to continuously ‘adapt’ to counter the challenges posed by the fast-changing world in today’s times.

The MP-IDSA, a think tank run by the Ministry of Defence, is hosting the DDD on the theme ‘Adaptive Defence: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Modern Warfare’.

Rajnath Singh added that the ‘Make in India’ campaign had witnessed success through indigenous projects such as Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, INS Vikrant, and DRDO’s missile programmes. Currently, India is exporting defence items to over 100 nations, with the top three destinations for defence exports in 2023–24 being the USA, France, and Armenia. “We hope to achieve the target of Rs 50,000 crore worth of defence exports by 2029,” he said.

DG, MP-IDSA Ambassador Sujan R Chinoy, and Indian Air Force Vice-Chief Air Marshal SP Dharkar were among those present at the event.