Peace possible only when we remain strong, India securing borders effectively: Rajnath

‘Our military power will emerge as No. 1 in world’

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the value of India’s defence production this year is expected to cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore and the target is to manufacture military hardware worth Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029.
Addressing a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Singh underlined that India’s growing defence capability is not meant to “provoke conflict” and that peace is possible only when the country remains “strong”.
“The day is not far when India will not only emerge as a developed country, but our military power will also emerge as the number one in the world,” he asserted.
Singh said our defence capabilities are like a credible deterrence, to maintain peace and tranquility. “Peace is possible only when we remain strong,” he added.
The Defence Minister said India is not only securing its borders but also positioning itself as a key player in the international defence ecosystem.
Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the “revival and strengthening” of the defence sector is one of the biggest priorities for the Government.
Highlighting India’s growing strategic capabilities, he said the country now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with developed nations in critical areas such as missile technology (Agni, BrahMos missiles), submarines (INS Arihant), aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), drones, cyber defence and hypersonic systems.
Showcasing India’s rise as a defence manufacturer, Singh said the country’s defence exports should reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.
India will reduce its dependency on imports and create a defence industrial eco-system that will not only meet the country’s needs but will also strengthen the potential of defence exports, he said.
Singh was speaking at the ‘Defence Conclave 2025 — Force of the Future’ hosted by The Week magazine.
“This year, defence production should cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore, while our target is to produce defence equipment worth Rs three lakh crore by the year 2029,” he said.
The Defence Minister said that while India’s defence manufacturing capabilities are aimed at national security and strategic autonomy, they are also insulating manufacturing from global “supply shocks”.
Singh underlined that India’s growing defence capability is not meant to provoke conflict.
In his address, Singh laid out a compelling vision for a “self-reliant and future-ready” India in the defence sector with a focus on indigenisation, innovation, and global leadership.
The Government’s first and foremost challenge was to change the mindset that India would simply import to meet its defence needs, he recalled.
“Today, while India’s defence sector is moving ahead on the path of self-reliance, it is also ready to play a very important role in making global supply chains resilient,” Singh emphasised.
He added that the ‘Make in India’ programme is not only strengthening the country’s defence production but also has the capability to make the global defence supply chain resilient and flexible.
On the evolving nature of warfare, Singh underscored that in the coming days, conflicts and wars will be more violent and unpredictable.
The cyber and space domains are rapidly emerging as new battlefields and along with this, a war of narrative and perception is also being fought all over the world.
To address these challenges, he mentioned that the focus is on holistic capacity building and continuous reforms.

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