Modernization of armed forces, a priority, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday that the government's priority is to modernize the armed forces and meet all their needs only through indigenization. "I would like to reiterate that the modernization of the armed forces is our priority. We would like to fulfill every requirement of the army through indigenization only," he said.

Singh said there is a need to promote indigenous production to increase defense capability and preparedness. Defense equipment would be imported only if the situation demanded that it was important and was not being manufactured in the country, he said.

Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of defense PSU Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), he said the defense sector would play a key role in making the country a USD 5 trillion economies through Foreign Direct Investment and offset investment in manufacturing. The government, he said, would like to bring defense exports to a respectable level by 2025, for which BDL needed to play an important role.

Singh said the country's defense architecture is grounded on the three principled formula of restraint, balance, and destruction "in the face of hatred" and works for peace and stability at the regional, continental and global levels. He said the missile development program is not intended to show the country's aggression, unlike its neighbor.

"You see our neighbor. There, the missiles are named only after invaders...Babur, Gori, Ghaznavi. The names are given so Pakistan can go in for aggressive posturing," he said. "The names of our missiles, including Prithvi, Akash, Agni, Nag, Trishul, Brahmos, inspire balance in creation, restraint, and destruction when necessary," he said.

On issues like terrorism, he said the country has been successful in making the world understand that nothing short of zero tolerance was acceptable. "It's results have begun to show. Those people who helped terrorism flourish or gave support indirectly, they also want to come into the democratic system. Weapon power also had a major contribution in this," he said.

The defense minister said the work of organizations like DRDO, ISRO, and BDL had enhanced India's respect the world over. Singh appreciated the stellar role played by BDL in the country's defense production capabilities and assured the PSU full support from the government.

He said that in view of the country needs and priorities, the government has ensured necessary coordination in defense, internal security, foreign, science, and technology policies with the economic policy to reduce as early as possible the gap between developed and developing countries.