Future Military Power Will Depend on Speed, Precision and Integration: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasised the importance of self-reliance in defence manufacturing, technological innovation and international partnerships while addressing participants of the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.

 

Hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from September 26 to October 12, the multinational air exercise brings together air forces from seven friendly foreign countries — Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the United States — along with representatives from 32 observer nations.

 

Congratulating the IAF and the organisations involved in conducting the exercise, Singh said the participation of foreign air forces had strengthened professional understanding and operational cooperation among nations.

 

“Different nations, different aircraft, different experiences, but one sky. That is the message of Tarang Shakti,” he said, highlighting the importance of collaboration and mutual trust in addressing emerging security challenges.

 

Modern Warfare Requires Speed, Precision and Integration

 

The Defence Minister observed that modern warfare was expanding beyond the traditional domains of land, sea and air to include space, cyberspace, the electromagnetic spectrum and the information domain.

 

He highlighted the growing role of unmanned systems, drones, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and long-range precision weapons in contemporary military operations.

 

“Future military power will be defined less by the number of platforms we possess. It will be determined by the speed of sensing, understanding, deciding, and acting,” Singh said.

 

He stressed that speed, precision, information and integration had become critical elements of military capability amid an evolving geopolitical environment and rapid technological advancements.

 

Focus on Atmanirbharta in Defence

 

Singh said India had adopted self-reliance in defence as a national policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen its resilience against emerging security threats.

 

He emphasised that countries must develop the capability to manufacture their own weapons and critical technologies to sustain themselves during prolonged conflicts and periods of uncertainty.

 

Highlighting the transformation of the Indian Air Force since Independence, the Defence Minister said the force had evolved into a modern aerospace power equipped with advanced aircraft, precision weapons, sophisticated sensors and integrated networks.

 

He clarified that Atmanirbhar Bharat did not mean isolation from the world but building domestic capabilities to design, develop, manufacture, maintain and upgrade critical defence technologies.

 

Among the indigenous systems and programmes highlighted were the Tejas fighter aircraft, Dhruv, Rudra and Prachand helicopters, the Light Utility Helicopter, the Akash air defence system, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and emerging unmanned aerospace technologies.

 

Singh also referred to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme as an important step towards developing fifth-generation stealth fighter technology. He underscored the importance of advanced aero-engine development and co-production.

 

Defence Partnerships Built on Technology and Trust

 

The Defence Minister said India was keen to expand cooperation with like-minded countries in research, co-development, co-production, maintenance, training and innovation.

 

“The defence relationships of the future will be about technology and trust, not just about platforms,” he said, underlining the importance of trusted partnerships and resilient supply chains.

 

He added that India must be capable of acting independently when necessary while also working effectively with partner nations when their interests and responsibilities converge.

 

Singh described Exercise Tarang Shakti as an important platform for translating these principles into operational experience. The exercise allows participating air forces to exchange knowledge, assess procedures and understand different aircraft, operational doctrines and mission-planning approaches.

 

He urged the Indian Air Force to incorporate the lessons learnt during the exercise into its training, tactics, technology, doctrine and future capability development.

 

Indigenous Aerospace Capabilities on Display

 

The second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti builds on the inaugural edition held in 2024 and reinforces India’s commitment to international defence engagement and cooperation.

 

The exercise brought together diverse combat, transport, surveillance and air-to-air refuelling capabilities, providing opportunities for joint mission planning and enhanced interoperability.

 

The participation of indigenous platforms, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, also showcased India’s progress in aerospace design, engineering and manufacturing.

 

The Defence Minister also referred to the operational relevance of air power in Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated the importance of preparedness, integrated planning, precision and credible deterrence in addressing national security challenges.

 

Apart from flying operations, the exercise featured professional engagements, industrial visits and cultural programmes, including yoga sessions, heritage visits and an International Night celebrating the traditions of participating nations.

 

-PIB