Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday underlined the transformative role of technology in modern warfare, stressing that Artificial Intelligence, drones, hypersonic missiles, and cyberattacks are reshaping the very nature of conflicts by introducing new layers of unpredictability.
Speaking at the Ran Samwad 2025 seminar on war and strategy at the Army War College in Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Singh highlighted how the “element of surprise” in war has become more potent due to technological advancements.
“Technology is advancing so rapidly that before one innovation is fully understood, another emerges to alter the course of warfare. UAVs, hypersonic missiles, cyber warfare, and AI-driven decision-making are now bringing unexpected twists to conflicts,” Singh said.
He pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war as a prime example, noting that what began in 2022 as conventional warfare had, within three years, evolved into a battle dominated by drones, precision-guided munitions, and sensor-based systems.
Singh emphasized that uncertainty and surprise now play decisive roles in conflicts. “The fusion of technology and surprise has made warfare more complex and unpredictable than ever before,” he remarked, urging India to keep pace with fast-emerging innovations while mastering existing technologies.
The Defence Minister also stressed the importance of self-reliance, crediting India’s rise in defence production and exports to indigenous manufacturing and recent reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
“In 2014, India’s defence production was about ₹46,425 crore; today, it has crossed ₹1.5 lakh crore. Defence exports, once under ₹1,000 crore, have touched a record ₹24,000 crore,” Singh said, highlighting contributions from the private sector worth over ₹33,000 crore.
He cited India’s indigenous platforms such as the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, Akash Missile System, and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier as proof of world-class quality. Singh also revealed that India is moving rapidly towards developing fifth-generation fighter aircraft and indigenous jet engines.
“Self-reliance in defence is no longer a dream but a reality. The journey of the past decade is testimony to India’s growing global stature in defence manufacturing,” he asserted.