New Delhi, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for India to emerge as a global defence manufacturing and export hub, stressing self-reliance in advanced technologies including drones, counter-drone systems and hypersonic defence capabilities.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said strengthening domestic defence production was essential for enhancing India’s strategic capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
He said India’s defence production had increased four-fold over the last 12 years, while defence exports had risen nearly 50-fold. Indian weapons and military equipment, he added, are now reaching approximately 100 countries.
“We have to become a global supplier by leveraging next-generation defence technology,” the Prime Minister said.
As part of his ‘Sapta Dhara’ roadmap for India’s next phase of growth, Modi identified ‘Raksha Shakti’, or defence power, as the fifth stream of strength. He said achieving Aatmanirbharta in defence was essential and India could not remain merely a market for weapons produced by other countries.
“We must become self-reliant in defence,” Modi said, calling for India to develop next-generation defence technologies and establish itself as a global defence supplier.
He specifically highlighted the need to build indigenous drone and counter-drone systems and take the lead in hypersonic defence technologies.
Modi also identified cybersecurity as an increasingly important component of national defence, noting that cyber threats can affect households and critical systems beyond traditional military domains. He said India’s young talent could contribute to developing capabilities serving both the country and the global community.
The Prime Minister said national security was a collective responsibility and warned that modern warfare was no longer confined to conventional battlefronts. Critical infrastructure such as refineries, banking systems, data centres, essential services and factories could now become targets.
Recalling the announcement of Mission Sudarshan Chakra last year, Modi said work on the initiative was progressing rapidly.
He also announced plans to establish a modern civil defence network, saying existing mechanisms were largely designed around the nature of conflicts witnessed during the previous century. The proposed system, he said, would familiarise citizens with advanced emergency systems and protocols and create a large voluntary civil defence force capable of responding to modern security threats.
Modi further highlighted developments in India’s aviation and aerospace manufacturing sectors. He said progress had been made towards manufacturing passenger aircraft in India and noted that the indigenous C-295 defence transport aircraft had successfully completed its maiden flight.
The Prime Minister also underlined the growing role of drones in modern warfare and national security.
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