Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, 11 July declared that while technologies like Artificial Intelligence are fundamentally reshaping modern warfare, conventional military power remains irreplaceable — and that future conflicts, however technology-driven, will ultimately be decided by national resolve, trained soldiers, and credible military strength. Singh made the remarks at the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Key Remarks at INS Mahendragiri Commissioning

Addressing the gathering, Singh said, 'While new technologies have certainly transformed the nature of warfare, they have not diminished the importance of conventional warfare capabilities. Strong conventional capabilities remain just as essential today as ever for fulfilling the fundamental principles of warfare. Future wars may be fought with Artificial Intelligence, but they will still be won through national resolve, trained soldiers, and credible military power.'

He underscored that technology and traditional platforms are not in competition but are complementary forces. 'A conventional platform is incomplete without new technology, and a conventional platform is weakened without it,' he said, warning that 'nations which neglected their conventional strength, lured by the appeal of new technology, had to pay a heavy price.'

India's Dual-Track Defence Strategy

Singh articulated India's approach as a deliberate balance between investing in cutting-edge technologies and continuously strengthening conventional capabilities. 'We will invest in future technologies while continuously honing our conventional capabilities. INS Mahendragiri stands as a symbol of this very resolve and commitment,' he said.

The minister pointed to Operation Sindoor as a recent demonstration of this integrated approach. 'During that operation, our armed forces demonstrated that India is fully capable not only of self-defence but also of delivering a decisive response and completely eliminating the enemy when the need arises,' he stated.

Economic Case for Indigenous Shipbuilding

Singh highlighted the broader industrial and economic significance of building warships domestically. 'The construction of a warship is not merely the building of a vessel; it entails the creation of an entire industrial ecosystem,' he said, noting that shipbuilding drives progress across steel, electronics, sensors, propulsion systems, software, precision engineering, and logistics, generating employment for lakhs of people.

'When we build a ship, we not only strengthen our Navy but also infuse new energy into India's economic prowess,' Singh added. He described every new vessel as 'a long-term investment in India's maritime future.'

Maritime India Vision 2030 and Policy Push

Looking ahead, Singh said the government has an ambitious pipeline of naval projects aimed at positioning India as a global hub for shipbuilding and maritime defence innovation. He cited the Maritime Development Fund, the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme as key policy instruments underpinning this push.

'Driven by this vision, our government is working rapidly on the Maritime India Vision 2030. We aim to move forward in collaboration with domestic industries, the private sector, MSMEs, startups, innovators, and our global partners,' he said. The commissioning of INS Mahendragiri is seen as a milestone in that broader ambition.