Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday, said Operation Sindoor demonstrated that indigenous systems are strengthening India's operational readiness, even as he hailed the the crucial role DRDO is playing in achieving self-reliance in defence.
Addressing a gathering at a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) event in New Delhi, the defence minister underlined that in today's times, when technology is changing rapidly, especially on the battlefield, "we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of 'survival of the fastest' and not just 'survival of the fittest'".
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"The country that thinks, decides, and deploys technology quickly stays ahead," Singh asserted.
He further said there is a "need to reduce time" between research and arriving at a prototype, from prototype to testing and from testing to deployment, asserting that "timely induction in the armed forces should be the biggest parameter".
He stressed the need to focus on R&D, exhorting the DRDO scientists to think innovatively and quickly, while not being afraid of taking risks. “Technology is changing rapidly. Any tech that is new today may become irrelevant in four-five years. Therefore, in today’s times, especially on the battlefield, we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of ‘survival of the fastest’ and not just ‘survival of the fittest’. The country that thinks, decides and deploys technology quickly stays ahead,” he said.
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Singh asked DRDO to move beyond the sectors as the private sector has already developed its capabilities, suggesting the creation of a separate wing within the organisation that takes risks in sectors where the chances of success may seem low. However, if success is achieved, it will be historic, he added.
Calling upon the DRDO to collaborate extensively with public sector undertakings and the private sector, he highlighted the development of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as a testament to the knowledge sharing between DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. "Many more such achievements await us, but for that, it is essential that DRDO collaborates with academia and share knowledge with the public and private sectors. Government’s support will only be meaningful when DRDO moves away from a monopolistic R&D model to a collaborative ecosystem, and cooperates with the public sector, private industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and academia," Singh said.
