Deputy Chief of Army Staff highlights critical need for indigenous drone ecosystem, urges industry to invest in R&D, and emphasizes industry-army collaboration for national security.
New Delhi, 4 July 2025: Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (CD&S), Indian Army, has underlined the urgent need for India’s armed forces to be both ready now and future-ready for technologically advanced warfare. Speaking at FICCI’s conference-cum-exhibition on ‘New Age Military Technologies,’ he stressed the importance of harnessing innovations across generations of warfare and called for a robust ecosystem to support the rapid adoption and integration of emerging technologies, especially drones.
Lt Gen Singh revealed that the Indian Army, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, is working on a comprehensive drone framework expected to be released by September or October 2025. “We are focusing on incentivizing production, addressing vulnerabilities, and facilitating testing. The goal is to build a sustainable ecosystem for dual-use drone technologies that support both civil and military applications,” he stated.
He further emphasized that India’s ambition to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047 hinges on a secure environment ensured by strong armed forces. “Atmanirbharta in defence is not optional. India must achieve self-reliance in critical technologies to avoid dependence and potential vulnerabilities,” he asserted, pointing to lessons learned from Operation Sindoor and highlighting the imperative of component-level R&D investments.
Calling upon the defence industry, Lt Gen Singh urged adherence to quality and timelines while adopting the four Cs: cooperate, collaborate, compete, but not complain. “It is not just the soldier who wins wars, but the soldier and industry working together,” he remarked, stressing that the creation of more testing facilities and adherence to standardized processes will help shorten procurement cycles and improve readiness.
Industry leaders echoed the Deputy Chief’s vision. Mr Vinod Sahay, Chair, FICCI Defence & Homeland Security Committee and President, Aerospace & Defence, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, emphasized the centrality of unmanned and autonomous systems in future conflicts, where minimizing casualties will be a priority.
Mr Ashok Atluri, Co-Chair, FICCI Defence & Homeland Security Committee and CMD, Zen Technologies Ltd, called for protection and encouragement of Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) companies, terming them national strategic assets.
Mr Ashish Kansal, Co-Chair, FICCI Defence and Homeland Security Committee and CMD, SMPP Ltd, highlighted India’s defence sector’s transformative moment, driven by ambition, innovation, and capability.
FICCI Director General Ms Jyoti Vij underscored the organization’s commitment to building a self-reliant defence ecosystem to fulfill India’s aspirations of becoming a global power.
Delivering the plenary keynote, Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, Master General Sustenance, Indian Army, noted that wars are becoming increasingly intense and complex, shaped by rapid technological advances and shifting geopolitical dynamics, making the integration of cutting-edge technologies essential for future warfare.