Military power in the future would depend less on the number of platforms a country possesses and more on the speed of sensing, decision-making and action, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday (October 10, 2026), while calling for greater self-reliance in defence technology, and stronger partnerships with trusted countries.

Mr. Singh addressed the participants in the second edition of the multinational air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti 2026’ at the Jodhpur Air Force Station, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Modern warfare was expanding beyond the traditional domains of land, sea and air to encompass space, cyber, the electromagnetic spectrum and the information domain, he told the gathering, adding that drones, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and long-range precision weapons were increasingly shaping military operations.

“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,” Mr. Singh said.

Emphasising the importance of atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence, he said indigenous capabilities were essential to sustain the country during prolonged conflicts and periods of uncertainty. Self-reliance did not mean isolation but the ability to design, develop, manufacture, maintain and upgrade critical defence technologies domestically, he said.

Highlighting India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem, Mr. Singh cited indigenously developed programmes, including the Tejas fighter aircraft, Dhruv, Rudra, Prachand and Light Utility Helicopter, the Akash air defence system, and advanced radars, the Ministry’s statement said. He described the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme as an important step towards mastering fifth-generation stealth fighter technology and stressed the need for advanced aero-engine development and co-production, it said.

“The defence relationships of the future will be about technology and trust, not just about platforms,” he said, calling for resilient supply chains and cooperation in research, co-development, production, maintenance and training.

‘Exercise Tarang Shakti’ provided an opportunity for participating air forces to exchange operational knowledge, assess procedures and improve interoperability, Mr. Singh said. He called on the Indian Air Force (IAF) to incorporate the lessons learnt into its training, tactics, technology, doctrine, and future capability development.

“Different nations. Different aircraft. Different experiences. But one sky. That is the message of Tarang Shakti,” Mr. Singh said.

Hosted by the IAF from September 26 to October 12, the exercise brought together the Air Forces of Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and the U.S., along with 32 observer nations. Indigenous platforms, including the Tejas and Prachand, also participated.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Defence Minister highlighted the importance of operational preparedness, integrated planning and the effective application of air power, the Ministry said.

Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, and the Navy chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan attended the event.