Rajnath Singh calls for jointness, innovation and self-reliance at Kalam & Kavach 3.0 Defence Dialogue

New Delhi, May 14. Stressing that the future strength of nations will hinge on how seamlessly their defence forces, laboratories and industries function as a unified ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for deeper jointness and accelerated self-reliance in India’s security architecture.

In a video address to policymakers, military leaders, diplomats, industry stakeholders, innovators and academia at Kalam & Kavach 3.0 Defence Dialogue held at the Manekshaw Centre here on May 14, Singh underlined that emerging security challenges demand faster integration between ideas, innovation and operational deployment.

He warned that national security can no longer rely on outdated assumptions amid rising geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, supply-chain vulnerabilities and hybrid warfare.

“The battlefield of tomorrow will reward those who can drastically shorten the time between an idea, a prototype and field deployment,” he said, adding that preparedness, resilience and innovation are now central to strategic confidence.

Calling self-reliance a strategic imperative rather than merely an economic objective, Singh emphasised that excessive dependence on foreign defence capabilities leaves nations vulnerable during crises. He advocated building, maintaining and upgrading critical defence systems within India’s own ecosystem to preserve strategic autonomy.

The Defence Minister also stressed the urgency of achieving greater jointness across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains, noting that modern warfare does not operate in silos. He said success would depend equally on how effectively the armed forces collaborate with laboratories, industry, startups and policymakers.

Delivering the inaugural address, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth described Kalam & Kavach as a platform where scientific knowledge and national security priorities converge. He said the concept symbolised the fusion of research and innovation with resilience and responsibility for national protection.

Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, Seth said threats now extend beyond conventional battlefields, requiring foresight-driven preparedness. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of JAI – Jointness, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and Innovation – he said this framework would shape India’s future security structure and its journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.

Addressing foreign delegates, Seth emphasised that India’s defence growth is rooted in cooperation, trust and shared innovation. He cited Operation Sindoor as an example of India’s rapid response capability, seamless jointness and effective use of indigenous technologies, reflecting the country’s zero-tolerance stance against terrorism.

Seth also highlighted the transformation in India’s defence industrial capacity. Defence exports, he noted, have surged from ₹686 crore a decade ago to ₹38,424 crore, while annual defence production touched a record ₹1.54 lakh crore in FY 2025–26. The government, he said, aims to raise exports to ₹50,000 crore and production to ₹3 lakh crore by 2029-30.

In his special address, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit stressed that India’s strategic future depends on indigenous innovation and mastery of cutting-edge technologies.

The conclave, themed ‘Taking JAI Forward With I²’, featured deliberations on advancing self-reliance through innovation, industrial partnerships and next-generation defence technologies. Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, HQ Integrated Defence Staff, members of the National Security Advisory Board, armed forces officers, defence attachés, scientists, industry leaders, startups, academia and international partners took part.

Discussions focused on AI-enabled warfare, autonomous systems, hypersonic technologies, quantum-enabled C4ISR, defence manufacturing scale-up, aerospace advancements and strategic partnerships. An exhibition by Indian private industry, MSMEs and startups showcased progress in defence innovation and manufacturing capabilities.