India defence export in 2024: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to the Army War College (AWC) in Mhow Cantonment on December 30, 2024, highlighted India’s achievements in defence exports and emphasized the importance of military training to face future challenges.
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He noted that India’s defence exports have grown significantly from ₹2,000 crore a decade ago to ₹21,000 crore today. “We have set an export target of ₹50,000 crore by 2029,” he stated, adding that Made-in-India defence equipment is now being exported to other countries.
Speaking about modern warfare, Mr. Singh explained that the nature of conflict has changed drastically in recent times, with threats like information warfare, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based warfare, proxy warfare, electromagnetic warfare, space warfare, and cyber-attacks becoming major concerns. “Mastering frontier technologies is the need of the hour in the constantly evolving times,” he said, stressing the importance of preparing soldiers to handle these new challenges. He praised the training centres in Mhow for their role in developing updated training methods to equip soldiers effectively.
He also revealed that India’s top defence export customers currently include the United States, France, and Armenia reported by The Hindu. During his speech, Mr. Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening integration and collaboration among the three military services. “In the times to come, the armed forces will be able to face challenges together in a better and more efficient way” he said.
He encouraged officers to explore integrating training in areas such as weapons training at the Infantry School, AI and communication technology at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), and leadership training at the Army War College. He further advised officers, some of whom will serve as defence attaches, to promote India’s self-reliance in defence. “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 stated.
Mr. Singh also emphasized the relationship between economic and military strength, saying, “Economic prosperity is possible only when full attention is paid to security. Similarly, the security system will be robust only when the economy is strong. Both complement each other.”
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During his visit, the Defence Minister laid a wreath at the Infantry Memorial, paying homage to fallen soldiers. He also visited the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain with Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.
At the AWC, Mr. Singh was briefed by Commandant Lt. General H. S. Sahi on the institute’s role in training military leaders to handle a range of conflicts. He was informed about advancements in training methodologies, such as multi-domain operations, the inclusion of technology in training, and collaborations with academia, universities, and industries. The institute’s efforts to train officers from friendly countries were also highlighted, showcasing its contribution to military diplomacy.
Mr. Singh concluded by commending the armed forces for their dedication to securing the nation and responding promptly during natural disasters. “This dedication to protect the nation and this spirit to keep ourselves updated in a constantly changing world can take us ahead of others,” he remarked.
