Air Chief Marshal A P Singh used the commissioning of INS Malvan to make a strong point about speed, self-reliance, and defence technology. Speaking at Karwar in Karnataka on Wednesday, he said India cannot afford to move too slowly when it comes to building its own military systems.
His main warning was clear: “technology delayed is technology denied”. He said, “It’s very important to build homegrown technology. It is very important to grow, but if you have to grow and remain relevant, it has to be at the speed of relevance. If you are growing at a speed…that by the time you design and develop something and produce something…the world has moved over to a new technology, then that has no meaning,”.
Indian Coast Guard Set To Get 10 Advanced MALE Drones For Maritime Surveillance
He then added, “So, according to me, any technology delayed is technology denied,” and also said, “All of us, who are in this field of military aviation, military sailing, or military land war, we have to realise that part. That if things have to happen, they have to happen at a pace…that we still remain relevant.”
Navy’s Work gets Praise
The Air Chief also praised the Indian Navy for moving ahead fast in shipbuilding and for sticking closely to the idea of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He said the Army and the Air Force should learn from the Navy’s way of working, especially the practice of placing officers inside the shipbuilding process from the start.
He said, “I am very happy to see that the Indian Navy is growing at the pace that they want to grow…adding another warship to the Indian Navy, the seventh in this year…and we have 12 more to go. We are moving closer to achieving our dream of a self-reliant India. The Indian Navy embraced this dream from the very beginning… Hum logon ne der kari hai balki (We (the Air Force) have been late, in fact). Because various sectors take different times to grow, and as far as naval shipbuilding is concerned, India has always had an edge,”.
INS Malvan Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Coastal Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities
He also said, “I just hope that the other two services, especially the Indian Air Force, learn the lesson as to how the Indian Navy has been able to get this whole concept right, where you have your Indian Navy officers who are embedded in your shipbuilding right from the beginning,”.
Need for Joint Fight, Not Solo Fight
Singh said the three services must work together more closely in future wars. He said, “I am sure this jointness…this integration, will continue to grow. We have already seen it in Operation Sindoor,”.
He added, “No future war is going to be fought by an individual service. All of us, whether we are in blues, whites, or OGs (olive green) or whichever colour…we are in allied services. We all have to fight together as one nation and then only we will succeed,”.
He also said the Navy plays a big role in keeping sea routes safe and trade moving. In his words, “The maritime routes decide your trade and your trade decides your destiny. We all understand how important the Indian Ocean Region is to us. So, whatever is happening in recent times around the world…is actually strengthening this concept…that unless you have your sea lines of communication free and unless you have your free trade, you will not be able to succeed as a country,”.
INS Malvan Commissioned at Karwar
The remarks came during the commissioning of INS Malvan, the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, at Karwar naval base in Karnataka. The ship is part of India’s growing indigenous warship fleet and is being built with a high level of local content.
India Eyes Indigenous Airship Capability Through Bharat Forge-Flying Whales Partnership
The Navy’s move is another step in its wider push to strengthen coastal defence, underwater surveillance, and maritime security. Singh also recalled his earlier concern about delays in Tejas deliveries and upgrades, showing that his message on speed in defence production has been consistent. The event was attended by senior naval officers, veterans, and representatives of Cochin Shipyard Ltd, which is helping build the vessel.
