We Will Fight Next War With Indigenous Weapons And Will Win It: Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat

Addressing the 41st Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Directors Conference, Rawat said that the development of weaponry and other systems should be done keeping 'future warfare' in mind.

41st Directors Conference organised by DRDO in New Delhi today. (Image: Twitter/ DRDO)

New Delhi: Pushing for a greater inclusion of indigenous technologies in armed forces, Army chief Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said that India will fight and win the next war with home-grown solutions. Addressing the 41st Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Directors Conference, Rawat said that the development of weaponry and other systems should be done keeping 'future warfare' in mind. "And, if we are looking at the contours of future warfare, it may not necessarily be contact warfare. So, there is realm of non-contact warfare. We need to start looking at development of cyberspace, space, laser, electronic warfare and robotics... and, along with that Artificial Intelligence (AI)," he said. The Army chief also pointed out that if we do not start thinking on it now, it will be too late. Rawat further praised DRDO for its achievements in the last few decades and said India is making great strides in research and development. "We are confident the services will greatly benefit from it," he said. "India is one of the largest importers of weapons and ammunition, and after 70 years of Independence, it is not a very proud statement to make. But in the past few years, it is changing. DRDO is striving to ensure our requirements of services are met with home-grown solutions," Rawat said.

Also seen are National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, Chairman & Secretary @DRDO_India Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. pic.twitter.com/zQ5tAwunxl

— ADG (M&C) DPR (@SpokespersonMoD) October 15, 2019

"We are confident that we will fight and win the next war with indigenous weapon system," the Army chief said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were guest of honour of the two-day event organised at the DRDO Bhawan in the national capital.  Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy were also present on the dais on the occasion. The defence minister earlier paid tribute to former president APJ Kalam by garlanding his bust at the DRDO premises as the event coincided with the 88th birth anniversary of the distinguished scientist. "Let us get inspired by his life and work towards realising his dream of making India a developed country through scientific advancement," Singh said. He also emphasised on the aspects of disruptive technologies that is changing the world and asserted that "India will have to emerge as a leader in this". Singh also pitched for working on indigenous system towards making the country "fully self-reliant".

Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh garlanding the statue of India’s former President and a great scientist, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/b21Ax28ggw

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) October 15, 2019

"All stakeholders must come together and hold interactions and come up with action plans as far as research is concerned, so as to increase our defence capabilities to take India to a new height," the minister said. Doval said, to make a strong and secure India, the role of DRDO would be very important. (With inputs from PTI)