Indian Defence India can't rely on others for its defence needs: Rajnath
New Delhi/UNI: India cannot continue to rely on other countries for its defence equipment and technology needs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, adding that the government has sent a clear message to countries like US, Russia and France that defence indigenization is now India's top priority.
Singh also said France and India will produce "an engine" in India under the strategic partnership model, a day after he met his French counterpart Florence Parly.
Speaking at the annual convention of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Minister talked about the challenges faced by India, and referred to both China and Pakistan but without naming them.
Talking about the government's ambitious plan for indigenization in defence, Rajnath Singh said India cannot rely on other countries for military technology.
"The kind of security challenges that we are facing, we cannot rely on other countries for our defence technology any more," Singh said.
He said most countries are India's friends and mentioned the recent visits of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the French Defence Minister. India and France held an annual defence dialogue on Friday.
"We have told every friend nation, we want to make defence equipment, like platforms, weapons, ammunition, in India. We have given clear indications to France, Russia and to France as well," he said.
"The US is the biggest defence exporter, they may feel the countries who buy equipment from them are their friends. We will keep our friendships, but we will also make it very clear to them, we will make everything in India," Singh said, adding he got a positive response from them.
"Just yesterday, it was about making an engine, I am happy to say that the French Defence Minister agreed, their company will come to India and make engines under a strategic partnership with our country," he said.
The Minister did not give any more details. He mentioned the Rs 5,000 crore project for manufacturing nearly 6 lakh AK-203 rifles under a joint venture in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, contracts for which were signed during Putin's visit to India.
"We are telling every country, come Make in India, make for the world," he said.
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