Defence minister Rajnath Singh said future wars will be decided in laboratories rather than on battlefields, highlighting the rapid transformation of global conflict due to technological advancements. Speaking at the North Tech Symposium in Prayagraj, he pointed to recent conflicts in West Asia and Eastern Europe to show how drones, sensors and unconventional tools have quickly overtaken traditional weapons such as tanks and missiles. He warned that virtually anything can be weaponised and stressed that nations must adapt swiftly to maintain an advantage.

Singh called for the creation of a knowledge corridor to connect industry, academia and the armed forces in developing emerging technologies. He emphasised the importance of research, innovation and the element of surprise, urging progress in areas such as directed energy weapons, hypersonic systems, underwater and space technologies, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched in response to a terror attack last year, the minister described it as a demonstration of India’s advanced military capabilities and measured response. He said modern missile systems and other advanced equipment were used to target terrorist infrastructure, underscoring the armed forces’ ability to adapt to evolving threats.

Highlighting growth in defence manufacturing, Singh said domestic production and exports have reached record levels, supported by private sector participation and global partnerships. He added that the government has prioritised defence research by transferring thousands of technologies to industry, opening testing facilities and easing technology transfer policies to strengthen indigenous capability and global competitiveness.