Defence minister Rajnath Singh addressed officers at the Army War College (AWC) in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday, underscoring the importance of mastering frontier technologies in modern warfare.
“Mastering frontier technologies is the need of the hour. Our military training centers are preparing soldiers to tackle future challenges with advanced warfare capabilities,” Singh said.
He discussed unconventional methods of warfare, including information warfare, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based operations, proxy warfare, electromagnetic warfare, space warfare, and cyber attacks, and highlighted their growing relevance in defense strategies.
The defence minister said that the training centers in Mhow have consistently updated their curriculum to align with these new challenges, preparing personnel for various combat scenarios.
He also spoke about the government’s vision of a developed India by 2047 and its efforts to enhance defense manufacturing and exports. He shared that defense exports have risen from approximately ₹2,000 crore a decade ago to over ₹21,000 crore, with a target of ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
Singh reaffirmed the government’s focus on strengthening integration among the three services and encouraged officers to explore training initiatives promoting jointness. He urged them to consider collaboration in weapons training, Artificial Intelligence, and communication technology, as well as leadership development.
“When you take up this post of Defence Attaches, you should imbibe the Government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Only through self-reliance can India strengthen its defence capabilities and gain more respect on the world stage,” he added.
Singh also reiterated the interconnectedness of economic prosperity and national security, stressing that robust defense systems and economic development complement each other.
During his visit, he reflected on Dr. BR Ambedkar’s values of dedication and perseverance, urging officers to adopt these principles. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Armed Forces in securing borders and assisting during natural disasters.
At AWC, Singh received a briefing from Commandant Lt Gen HS Sahi on training methodologies and initiatives in multi-domain operations, technology integration, and collaboration with academia and industries. The institute’s engagement with officers from friendly nations was also highlighted. Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior army officials were present at the event.
Singh also laid a wreath at the Infantry Memorial in honor of fallen soldiers and visited the Infantry School, Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), and Army Marksmanship Unit. He reviewed the progress of the Quantum Technology and AI labs at MCTE, describing these initiatives as steps towards enhancing adaptive warfare capabilities.