Emphasising that "Indian challenges require Indian solutions", Outgoing Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that 'Atmanirbharta' or self-reliance is a "core requirement" of national security and future warfare. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Gen Dwivedi said that in times of crises, the country should rely on its own systems.
He mentioned that indigenous systems have performed well and are becoming central to the national security framework. When asked about the Centre's Atmanirbharta (Indigenisation) push and the Army's support in that direction, Gen Dwivedi said, "Atmanirbharta is now a core requirement of national security and future warfighting.
In a crisis, the nation must be able to rely on its own systems, its own industrial base and its ability to sustain long-duration conflicts." "Indigenous systems have performed well and are becoming central to surveillance, communications, electronic warfare, precision engagement, information management and operational decision-making.
Indigenous capability is no longer peripheral to military preparedness; it is increasingly becoming an essential part of it," he added. At the same time, the outgoing Army Chief emphasises that modern warfare is evolving rapidly and the capability requirements will continue to emerge, especially in areas such as long-range precision fires, advanced munitions, drones and counter-UAS.
"The need for better systems for electronic warfare, resilient communications, AI-enabled decision systems, autonomous platforms and battlefield awareness will continue to increase. Therefore, it is important that the defence industry is prepared to deliver current and future requirements of the defence forces," he said.
"We need Indian solutions for Indian challenges because our terrain, threat matrix and operational requirements are unique. Our engagement with DRDO, DPSUs, private industry, MSMEs, start-ups and academia is aimed at faster trials, better hand-holding and quicker induction," Gen Dwivedi added.
He also spoke about Operation Sindoor and said that it has validated the Indian Army's "joint, integrated, and future-ready warfighting capabilities", while showcasing the "collective strength" of India's security framework. Gen Dwivedi said that Operation Sindoor also reinforced the importance of the Army's transformation as an "integrated institutional process" and "multi-domain integration".