'Take 5 years instead of 20: Rajnath Singh cautions DRDO, lauds India's military advancement

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says the country is moving rapidly towards the design and development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). In the past, numerous efforts have been made to achieve excellence in the field of aero engines. Now is the time to complete the unfinished endeavors.

Rajnath Singh also urged scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to complete the indigenous aero-engine project within five years, instead of taking decades as is the usual norm.

What did Rajnath Singh say?

The Defense Minister was speaking to experts at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment in Bengaluru on Monday. The Defense Minister told experts and researchers, "If it takes 25 years to develop an engine, then India's current situation, our strategic needs, and our ambitions are such that you should consider that your 20 years have already ended and you now have only 5 years left. This is not surprising; it is a challenge. We have to do in 5 years what other countries do in 20. We have to give our best in this."

The Minister said that we must also look to the future. We cannot limit ourselves to just 5th-generation engines. We must also begin developing advanced 6th-generation technology as soon as possible. Research on this is the need of the hour. As technology changes around the world, the use of artificial machine learning and new materials is increasing, and we must stay ahead of the curve.

With which countries is India collaborating?

He told the scientists and researchers present that they are conducting joint studies with England to develop aero engines. This is a very good initiative. Furthermore, we have initiated the process with France for aeroengines under the National Aeroengine Mission. Both France and the UK have been at the forefront of aeroengine technology. This agreement with them will not only provide us with the opportunity to learn new technologies but also help us understand the challenges we have faced over the past decades.

"When we came to power, we took steps towards self-reliance. We made numerous efforts to promote self-reliance, even in the defence sector. During my nearly seven-year tenure, I made every effort to prioritize the development of aero engines, and we did so. Given today's global political situation, I believe it goes without saying how important self-reliance is in such critical technologies. During Operation Sindoor, we clearly saw how our own technology, our indigenously manufactured weapons, supported our forces. Whether it was communication systems, surveillance equipment, or attack weapons, the essence of indigenous technology was clearly visible in all of them," the  Defence Minister said.

Rajnath Singh stated that this further boosted the morale of the army and brought pride to the people of the country. "Now as times are changing, challenges are changing, it has become very important for us to focus more on indigenous methods, and provide world class systems and equipment to our forces," he said.