Jodhpur, October 10: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said future military power would depend increasingly on the speed of sensing, understanding, decision-making and action rather than the number of platforms a country possesses, underscoring the growing importance of technology, precision and integration in modern warfare.
Addressing participants of the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Singh said modern warfare was expanding beyond the traditional domains of land, sea and air to include space, cyber, the electromagnetic spectrum and the information domain.
“Future military power will be defined less by the number of platforms we possess. It will be determined by the speed of sensing, understanding, deciding, and acting,” he said, highlighting the growing influence of unmanned systems, drones, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and long-range precision weapons on contemporary military operations.
The Defence Minister emphasised that technological innovation, operational preparedness and the ability to integrate information and capabilities would be critical to addressing emerging security challenges amid a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
Singh also stressed the importance of self-reliance in defence, saying India must develop the domestic capability to produce its own weapons and critical technologies to sustain itself during prolonged conflicts and periods of uncertainty.
He said the policy of Atmanirbharta in defence did not imply isolation from the world but sought to strengthen India’s ability to design, develop, manufacture, maintain and upgrade critical defence technologies while deepening cooperation with trusted international partners.
“The defence relationships of the future will be about technology and trust, not just about platforms,” he said, underlining the need for collaboration in research, co-development, co-production, maintenance, training and innovation.
Highlighting India’s expanding aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem, Singh referred to indigenous platforms and systems such as the Tejas fighter aircraft, Dhruv, Rudra, Prachand and Light Utility Helicopter, as well as the Akash air defence system and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.
He also highlighted the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme as an important step towards developing fifth-generation stealth fighter technology, stressing the importance of advanced aero-engine development and co-production.
Singh said India must be capable of acting independently when required while retaining the ability to operate effectively with other nations when their interests and responsibilities converge.
Describing Exercise Tarang Shakti as an important platform for translating defence cooperation into operational experience, he said multinational exercises enabled participating air forces to exchange knowledge, assess procedures and understand different aircraft, doctrines and approaches to mission planning.
“Different nations. Different aircraft. Different experiences. But one sky. That is the message of Tarang Shakti,” he said.
The Defence Minister called upon the Indian Air Force (IAF) to incorporate the lessons learnt during the exercise into its training, tactics, technology, doctrine and future capability development. He expressed confidence that the exercise would strengthen professional relationships and open new avenues for aerospace and defence cooperation among participating nations.
Hosted by the IAF from September 26 to October 12, the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti brought together air forces from seven friendly foreign countries—Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the United States—along with representatives from 32 observer nations.
The exercise provided opportunities for joint mission planning, operational learning and enhanced interoperability, bringing together diverse combat, transport, surveillance and air-to-air refuelling capabilities. The participation of indigenous platforms, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, also highlighted India’s progress in aerospace design, engineering and manufacturing.
The second edition builds on the inaugural exercise held in 2024 and reflects India’s efforts to strengthen defence engagement and cooperation with international partners.
Singh also referred to the changing security environment and the role of air power in Operation Sindoor, which, according to the Defence Ministry, demonstrated the IAF’s ability to conduct precise and calibrated operations in support of national security objectives. He said the evolving nature of warfare reinforced the need for operational preparedness, integrated planning and credible deterrence.
Beyond flying operations, the exercise featured professional engagements, industrial visits and cultural activities, including yoga sessions, heritage visits and an International Night showcasing the traditions of participating nations.
Chief of Defence Staff General N. S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, senior Ministry of Defence officials and representatives of participating countries attended the event.
