Visakhapatnam: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that new technologies like artificial intelligence are changing the way of warfare, but conventional military capabilities are still essential. He stressed that future battles may use AI, but ultimately they will be won by the nation’s intent, trained soldiers, and credible military might.
Addressing the gathering during the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Defence Minister Singh said, “While new technologies have certainly changed the way of warfare, they have not diminished the importance of conventional warfare capabilities. Strong conventional capabilities are as important today as ever to meet the fundamental principles of warfare. Future battles may be fought with artificial intelligence, but they will still be won by the nation’s intent, trained soldiers, and credible military might.”
Stressing the need to strike a balance between technological advancements and traditional strength, the Defence Minister said, “New technology and traditional platforms are not adversaries but complementary; a traditional platform is incomplete without new technology, and a traditional platform becomes vulnerable without it. History bears witness that countries that neglected their traditional strengths in the pursuit of new technology have paid a heavy price.”
Emphasizing India’s long-term defense strategy, Defence Minister Singh said, “Therefore, India’s approach is very clear: we must excel in both areas and maintain a balance between them.”
He further said, “We will invest in future technologies while continuously improving our traditional capabilities. INS Mahendragiri symbolizes this intent and commitment.”
Referring to India’s recent military operations, the Defence Minister said that the country’s ability to effectively integrate traditional and modern capabilities has already been demonstrated. He said, “In recent times, we have also seen how our traditional and modern capabilities work together when it comes to national security. ‘Operation Sindoor’ was a prime example of this. During that operation, our forces demonstrated that India is fully capable not only of self-defense, but also of delivering a decisive response and completely eliminating the enemy if necessary.”
Defense Minister Singh further stated that every warship inducted into the Navy contributes to strengthening India’s larger defense and industrial ecosystem.
“With every ship, India’s ecosystem matures, becomes more efficient, and more confident.”
Explaining the huge economic significance of indigenous warship construction, he said, “Therefore, I believe that every new ship represents a long-term investment in India’s maritime future. Building a warship is not just about building a ship; it involves building an entire industrial ecosystem.” He further said, “The shipbuilding industry drives growth in sectors such as steel, electronics, sensors, propulsion systems, software, precision engineering, logistics, and many ancillary industries. This creates employment opportunities for millions, promotes the development of new technologies, and accelerates our economy. Therefore, when we build a ship, we not only strengthen our Navy but also inject new energy into India’s economic strength.”
The Defence Minister also said that India has a large pipeline of naval projects for the coming years, aimed at establishing the country as a global hub for shipbuilding and maritime defence innovation.
He said, “I am confident that in the future, our country will carve out a niche for itself among the world’s leading countries in this sector. Our aim is to move forward in collaboration with domestic industry, the private sector, MSMEs, startups, innovators, and our global partners. Inspired by this vision, our government is rapidly working on the ‘Maritime India Vision 2030.'” He also outlined the government’s policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the maritime sector.
Singh further said, “The government has launched several important initiatives, such as the Maritime Development Fund, the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme. These efforts will strengthen our industrial base, enhance our shipbuilding capacity, and bolster our maritime capabilities to protect India’s growing economic interests.”
