Wars Now Fought in Data and Algorithms, Not Just Battlefields, Says Defence Minister

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that wars in the modern era are increasingly being fought “in data and algorithms” rather than on traditional battlefields, stressing the growing importance of frontier technologies, innovation, and intellectual capability in national defence.

Speaking at the national conference on “Opportunities in Defence Manufacturing in the Country”, Singh said that future conflicts would be defined more by technological and intellectual strength than by physical might. “We need to invest more in frontier technologies, in the intellectual sphere rather than the physical one. Our focus must remain on innovation and cutting-edge technology,” he stated.

Highlighting the government’s vision for the sector, Singh said that by 2029, India aims to achieve defence production worth at least Rs 3 lakh crore and defence exports up to Rs 50,000 crore. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the “Year of Reforms”, he said, urging cooperation from all states and Union Territories to meet these goals.

Citing data on the sector’s progress, Singh said India’s defence production had risen from Rs 46,425 crore in 2014 to a record Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2024. He noted that the private sector’s contribution now exceeds Rs 33,000 crore, underscoring its growing role in building a self-reliant defence ecosystem. Defence exports, he added, have grown significantly, from less than Rs 1,000 crore a decade ago to Rs 23,500 crore at present.

“India’s journey toward self-reliance in the defence sector has evolved from policy to practice and from innovation to impact. Self-reliance in defence is no longer limited to declarations; it is now reflected in action, impact, and global recognition,” Singh said.

Encouraging youth participation, Singh called on young entrepreneurs to establish defence technology startups. “India already has more than 100 unicorns, but none yet in the defence sector. I urge young entrepreneurs to aim to create defence unicorns,” he said.

Emphasising cooperation between the Centre and states, Singh said national defence was a shared responsibility. “When it comes to national defence, it is not the duty of the Central government alone. Strengthening the defence sector is a collective resolve,” he said, urging state governments to expedite land transfers and make use of the Defence Ministry’s online construction permission portal.

During the event, Singh also launched two digital initiatives, the Defence Exim Portal, designed to streamline export and import authorisations, and SRIJAN-DEEP (Defence Establishments and Entrepreneurs Platform), a repository showcasing Indian defence industry capabilities and products.