NEW DELHI :
Delhi Bureau & Agencies :
INDIA’S defence architecture should
not be dependent on any uncertain
“foreign interference”, and it should
be based on its own capabilities,
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said
on Saturday.
He said the Government plans to
provide complete aerial security to
all important installations across the
country under the proposed
‘Sudarshan Chakra’ air defence system within the next 10 years.
In an address at the NDTV Defence
Summit, Singh said the air defence
shield will comprise both defensive
and offensive elements to deal with
any enemy threats.
“As we saw during Operation
Sindoor, the importance of air defence
capability in today’s wars has
increased to a great extent. In such a
scenario, the‘Sudarshan Chakra’ mission will certainly prove to be a game
changer,” he said.
In his Independence Day speech,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
announced the ambitious air defence
project.
The announcement came
days after Pakistan Army chief Field
Marshal Asim Munir reportedly hinted at targeting Indian assets along
the border in case of any future military confrontation between the two
countries. Singh said, the shifting
geopolitics has also made it clear that
external dependency in the field of
defence is no longer an option.
“In
the current situation, self-reliance is
essential for both our economy and
our security,” he said.
“Today, the defence sector is not
only the foundation of national security but has also become a pillar in
strengthening our economy and
securing its future,” the Defence
Minister said. “It is not just about the
safety of people, the protection of
land, or the defence of borders, but
it is also becoming a responsible sector for the protection and security of
our entire economy,” he said.