Rajnath Singh: India's Defence Exports Soar from Rs 2,000 to Rs 21,000 Crore in a Decade

Mhow (Madhya Pradesh), Dec 31 (NationPress) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reported that India's defence exports have attained a remarkable milestone of Rs 21,000 crore, escalating from a mere Rs 2,000 crore a decade earlier.

Speaking to officers at the Army War College (AWC) here on Monday, he mentioned that the government has established an ambitious target of Rs 50,000 crore for defence exports by 2029.

He discussed the transformative changes in warfare, highlighting unconventional strategies such as information warfare, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven combat, proxy warfare, electromagnetic warfare, space warfare, and cyber-attacks which pose significant challenges.

Rajnath Singh emphasized the importance of the military being adequately trained and equipped to counter such threats and praised the training facilities in Mhow for their essential contributions.

The Defence Minister applauded the centres for their ongoing efforts to enhance their training programs in accordance with contemporary requirements, ensuring that personnel are fit to tackle every conceivable challenge.

He urged the officers to investigate opportunities for fostering integration in areas such as weapons training at the Infantry School, AI and communication technology at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), and leadership development at the AWC.

He further stated that the Modi government is dedicated to enhancing integration and collaboration among the three branches of the defence services.

"In the future, the armed forces will be better equipped to face challenges collaboratively and more effectively," the Defence Minister asserted.

He pointed out that certain officers would serve as defence attaches in the future and should endeavor to safeguard national interests on a global platform.

"As you embark on this role as defence attaches, you should embody the government's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. Only through self-reliance can India fortify its defence capabilities and earn greater respect globally," he elaborated.

Minister Singh remarked that the government is unwavering in its commitment to position India as one of the world's most formidable economic and military powers.

"Economic success is achievable only when security is prioritized. Likewise, a robust security framework is contingent upon a strong economy. Both are interdependent," he noted.

Defence Minister Singh commended the armed forces for their role in securing borders and acting as the first responders during natural calamities.

He received a briefing from AWC commandant Lt Gen HS Sahi regarding the institute's role and significance in training and empowering military leaders for diverse conflict scenarios.

The Defence Minister was also informed about significant advancements in training methodologies, including joint operations in multi-domain environments, the integration of technology in training curricula, and collaborations with academia, universities, and industries, alongside training for CAPF officers, as stated in a release.

He was apprised of the institute’s global outreach achieved through training officers from allied nations, thus contributing immensely to military diplomacy.

The Defence Minister laid a wreath and paid tribute to the bravehearts at the Infantry Memorial.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior Army officials were present during the occasion.