How Did Operation Sindoor Provide a Reality Check on N-Warfare Needs?

Pune, Sep 12 (NationPress) Emphasizing the necessity for increased investment in research and development (R&D), Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh remarked on Friday that Operation Sindoor acted as a crucial evaluation for the armed forces, highlighting the areas in which improvements can be made and the need to adjust to the evolving demands of nuclear warfare.

Speaking with reporters during the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar – STRIDE (Synergy of Technology, Research, Industry & Defence Ecosystem) at the RSAMI in Pune, Singh noted that currently, only 0.66 percent of GDP is allocated to R&D, with two-thirds of this funding coming from the public sector, such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

“Without R&D, we cannot progress in the defence sector. We must transform the current landscape as the private sector has minimal involvement in this area,” he stated. He also mentioned that the government plans to allocate 25 percent of the Technology Development Fund (TDF) of the DRDO to the private sector and has established a Rs 1 lakh crore research fund under the Department of Science and Technology.

“Over the past three years, nearly Rs 1,500 crore has been disbursed to start-ups and private sector companies through TDF,” he added.

Discussing indigenous initiatives for defence equipment, he remarked, “On a broader level, we have committed to spending no less than 75 percent of our defence budget domestically. Last year, we actually allocated 81 percent entirely within the country.”

He was not in favor of increasing the defence budget, stating, “A necessity for such an increase may only arise once we optimize the current budget. There are no fiscal constraints; the finance department is prepared to enhance our capital expenditure by 10-15 percent annually, which will be adequate to meet the armed forces' requirements.”

Addressing the topic of fighter jet engines, he indicated that the country is nearing a partnership with an international engine manufacturer, along with the DRDO.

“That’s a long-term process that may take up to a decade to develop,” Singh stated at the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar – STRIDE at RSAMI, Pune.

He also mentioned that efforts are underway to decrease our reliance on foreign suppliers for marine engines.

The Southern Command of the Indian Army is hosting the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar – STRIDE at RSAMI, Pune.

The seminar, themed “Atmanirbharta through Partnership – Industry, Academia, Armed Forces,” brought together key stakeholders from academia, industry, research organizations, and the Armed Forces to strengthen collaboration, accelerate indigenous capability development, and facilitate the adoption of disruptive technologies in defense.

The event saw participation from Lt. Gen Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, GOC-in-C, Southern Command, alongside senior Army officials and esteemed representatives from the defense community.

The session, themed “Fast Tracking Development of Niche Tech for Indigenous Systems,” included discussions on reverse engineering, industry-funded academic research, and the role of the DRDO.

Deliberations on the advancement of the Indian Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem highlighted the contributions of private industry, PSUs, and academia.

This seminar represented a step towards establishing a robust, self-sufficient defense industrial base while cultivating partnerships to address future national security challenges.