Nations need resilient supply chains and rapid innovation to fight protracted conflicts: Rajnath

Nations with resilient supply chains, strong industrial capacity and ability to innovate rapidly would be better equipped to withstand prolonged conflicts, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday in the backdrop of the more than four-year-old Russia-Ukraine war.

Against this backdrop, he said the Centre was committed to ensuring that India’s armed forces were not dependent on foreign supply chains for critical defence requirements.

“Our aim is to manufacture defence equipment domestically, undertake repair and maintenance within the country, upgrade existing systems with modern technologies, and develop next-generation capabilities indigenously,” Singh maintained.

He said these efforts reflected India’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub, a reliable technology partner and a trusted defence partner.

Singh made the remarks after laying the foundation stone of a `472-crore facility for the overhaul of T-series battle tanks at the 57-year-old Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ).

Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, he noted countries possessing advanced technologies, resilient supply chains, robust industrial capabilities and dynamic innovation ecosystems would be in a stronger position to sustain themselves during long-drawn conflicts.

Singh said the T-series tank overhaul facility would help build a resilient domestic supply chain by generating demand for a wide range of mechanical, electrical, electronic and hydraulic components, assemblies and subsystems.

“The sourcing of these items would create opportunities for local MSMEs in manufacturing and ancillary services associated with tank overhauling, while helping develop a strong and self-sustaining industrial ecosystem,” he stated.

The project would prove to be a boon for soldiers and generate employment opportunities in Jabalpur and surrounding areas, including for workers, youth, small entrepreneurs and other sections of the local population, Singh said.

He emphasised that while warfare was rapidly changing with the advent of drones, precision-guided weapons, missiles, satellites, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare, the relevance of tanks had not diminished, but only evolved.

“Modern warfare demands combined capabilities rather than dependence on a single platform. Tanks, infantry, artillery, drones, air power, surveillance and precision weapons together form an integrated combat system,” he pointed out.

Singh emphasised there was a need to equip tanks with superior sensors and capabilities suited to the requirements of the modern battlefield.

“Our focus is to provide soldiers with drones, missiles, artillery, electronic warfare capabilities, energy weapons and modernised tanks, while ensuring seamless coordination among them. This overhaul facility will advance this vision,” he said.

Under an upcoming project, the Jabalpur facility will overhaul T-72 and T-90 tanks and is expected to help meet the Indian Army’s annual requirement for the maintenance of these battle tanks.

Singh said the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi (Tamil Nadu) had supplied around 4,400 tanks to the Army over the past four decades, reflecting its significant contribution to India’s armoured capabilities.

The new project would further strengthen Jabalpur’s identity as a major hub for defence technology, maintenance, modernisation and manufacturing, he stressed.

Singh expressed confidence that Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL), which has experience in overhauling T-72 and T-90 variant tanks, would set new benchmarks in quality, productivity, innovation and global competitiveness.

VFJ, where the tank overhaul facility is coming up, is a premier military vehicle manufacturing unit operating under AVNL.

Established in 1969, the factory initially produced Shaktiman 3-tonne vehicles in collaboration with Germany’s MAN, as well as Nissan 1T and Jonga vehicles in collaboration with Japan’s Nissan Motors Co.

The factory complex in the Madhya Pradesh city is spread over 330 acres, while its adjoining estate covers another 600 acres, officials said.