‘Need is not to eliminate tanks, but to modernise them’: Rajnath Singh on India’s armoured warfare push

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said tanks continue to remain relevant in modern warfare despite the growing use of drones, missiles, satellites, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare, stressing the need to modernise armoured platforms rather than phase them out.Speaking in Jabalpur, Singh said the role of tanks had evolved with changes in technology and the character of warfare, but their requirement in ground combat had not disappeared."The role of tanks has not ended; the role of tanks is evolving. Technology is changing and the character of warfare is changing, but the need for tanks in ground combat has not ended. And this is also guiding our defence policy," Singh said.He said the strength of tanks lies in the combination of mobility, protection and firepower, allowing them to provide protected mobility to soldiers even in difficult terrain."Everyone has their own strength. For example, the biggest strength of a tank is the combination of its mobility, protection and firepower. It provides protected mobility to soldiers even in difficult terrain. At the same time, tanks can play a decisive role in ground operations," he said.Singh said the focus should be on equipping tanks with advanced technologies and capabilities suited to modern battlefields."Therefore, the need today is not to eliminate tanks, but to modernise them. They need to be equipped with better sensors and capabilities suited to modern battlefield requirements," he said."Today, the character of warfare has certainly changed. There are drones, precision-guided weapons, missiles, satellites, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare. But this does not mean that the relevance of tanks has ended. Modern warfare is not about any single platform," he said.The Defence Minister said tanks would form part of an integrated combat system alongside infantry, artillery, drones, air power, surveillance and precision weapons."Tank, infantry, artillery, drones, air power, surveillance and precision weapons, all of these together form an integrated combat system. An example of this approach has been presented by our Army in the form of the Integrated Battle Group," he said.Singh was speaking at the foundation stone ceremony for a strategic facility at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur for the overhaul of T-72 and T-90 tanks."At Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur, I congratulate all of you on the foundation stone laying ceremony for the strategic facility for the overhaul of T-72 and T-90 tanks. Today is a day to take our industrial self-reliance to a new height and to further enhance the pride of a historic city like Jabalpur on India's defence manufacturing map," he said.He described the project as an important example of India's growing technological capability, industrial capacity and confidence in the defence sector."The facility for which we are laying the foundation stone today is not an ordinary project. It is in itself an example of India's growing technological consciousness, our industrial capability and our increasing confidence in the defence sector," Singh said.He added that the project would benefit soldiers as well as local communities, including farmers, workers, young people and small entrepreneurs."This project will prove to be a boon for our soldiers who use these tanks to destroy the enemy. And most importantly, this project will also bring prosperity and opportunities into the lives of local people in Jabalpur and surrounding areas, our farmers, our workers, our youth and our small entrepreneurs," he said.Singh also highlighted Madhya Pradesh's plans to expand defence manufacturing, saying 3,073 hectares of land in the Gwalior-Chambal region had been identified for defence manufacturing opportunities, with proposed investments exceeding Rs 16,960 crore.