Indian Army undergoing rapid modernization: Army Chief Gen Naravane

New Delhi, November 08: Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, said that the Indian Army is undergoing rapid modernization and is increasingly looking at indigenous solutions for its operational needs.

 

 

While addressing a webinar organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the army chief said, "Indian Army is undergoing rapid modernization and is increasingly looking at indigenous solutions for its operational needs. I reassure all that the Indian Army will always take the lead when it comes to our role in facilitating the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat."

 

"The government's AatmaNirbhar Bharat initiative has given a much-needed national stimulus and a fresh lease of energy to inspire the revival of domestic industry," he said. He further added, "I truly believe that during conflicts, in war-like situations, only indigenously developed technologies will be available to us for full exploitation across diverse domains."

 

 

Developing indigenous and local capabilities to confront emerging security challenges and reduce dependence on foreign technologies is, therefore, an imperative, Naravane mentioned.

 

"The Army, in particular, is more suited to lead this initiative. India has an expanding industrial base and we are confident that most of the core requirements of defence equipment can be realised in-house, " he noted.

 

 

The average cost of acquisition is lower in the Indian Army, that allows wide participation of MSMEs and start-ups, he said. The government's initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) during an economic downturn as given much-needed fillip to the domestic industry, he said.

 

SP Shukla, Chair, FICCI Defence and Aerospace Committee at the annual webinar on Army Make Projects, also spoke on the event. Lieutenant General Shantanu Dayal, DCOAS (CD&S) was also present.

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