Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri said that our efforts are towards enhancing indigenization & indigenous content in the defence sector while inaugurating DEFCOM 2015 co-organised by Confederation of Indian Industry and Corps of Signals Indian Army at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 23 November 2015. New DPP will reflect this intent of the Government. He further said that Indian army should make use of the digital advantage created by recent policy initiatives. Due to information overload, finding right information & at the right time is like finding a needle in a haystack. We need to leverage our software strength and enhance our capabilities in hardware design and manufacture.
Future wars may be cyber wars. He added that despite ICT advancements in the area of Defence, conventional army cannot be replaced but can be equipped with technology and more advanced and authentic information. He shared that while benefits of ICT developments should be leveraged, there needs to be caution about the disruptive nature of technology and also the data & network security related issues associated with it.
Hon’ble Minister also congratulated CII for being in the forefront of Make in India initiative and helping with the revision of Defence Procurement Procedure. He said Government is looking at using more of indigenously developed products for Defence usage.
Mr Kiran Karnik said that over last two decades we have seen how ICT sector has evolved in India. The sector accounts for 1 million direct jobs and addition 1 million indirect jobs. Defence area is very critical for the use of ICT as the increased use of ICT brings along challenges pertaining to cyber security. DEFCOM 2015 provides a platform for bringing Defence & ICT capabilities together to address the issue of Cyber Security in all respect. He also highlighted the need to create an institutional mechanism though which industry can use of talent available in the Indian Army after post their retirement.
Lt Gen Nitin Kohli, Signal Officer-in-Chief and Colonel Commandant, Corps of Signals, Indian Army said that we our aim is to provide information access to everyone about the independent systems like sensor and shooters from across the platforms on real time basis. DEFCOM brings end-users and Industry together to discuss developments and technological advancements and innovations. Highlighting various benefits of Network Centric Warfare, he enunciated the vision of having a Digital Army leveraging ICT and human capital.
Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said that the ongoing rapid pace of policy reforms has created positive business sentiments within the country as well as overseas. Now the onus lies on the industry to make use of the opportunities and the favourable policy regimes. While leveraging the strength of Indian industry, we have to create more capabilities in the electronics and hardware manufacturing. There is an undeniable necessity in enhancing the indigenous content of our defence related hardware.
Maj Gen R Sabherwal, ADG, Tac C, Indian Army, while thanking all dignitaries and Hon’ble Minister, highlighted the relevance of DEFCOM and the focused discussions it is hoping to have to make Digital Army a reality.
New Delhi
23rd November, 2015