Defense Minister Rajnath Singh opened the 41st conference of the Indian Coast Guard’s top brass on Tuesday, bringing the organization’s ongoing indigenization drive into sharp relief and highlighting the government’s commitment to modernizing the ICG and the three services with locally produced military hardware.
Speaking about the efforts being made to increase “Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) in the military manufacturing industry, Singh mentioned that 31 ships, with projects valued at over ₹4,000 crore, were being built for ICG by Indian yards.
Rajnath Singh emphasized in his speech the approvals granted by India’s highest military procurement body, the Defence Acquisition Council, to improve the Coast Guard’s capabilities with a variety of platforms and systems, such as next-generation fast patrol vessels, software-defined radios, interceptor boats, Dornier aircraft, and multi-mission maritime aircraft.
“In this era of artificial intelligence, quantum technology and drones, the field of security is witnessing significant changes. Given the current geopolitical situation, maritime threats will increase in the future. We need to be alert and ready. The importance of manpower will always remain, but the world should know us as a technology-oriented Coast Guard,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated.
As the geopolitical landscape changes and maritime security becomes more complicated, the three-day conference will provide an essential platform for ICG commanders to debate strategic, operational, and administrative issues, according to a statement from the defence ministry.
Singh referred to the ICG as the nation’s elite guard, responsible for safeguarding the country’s extensive coastline by continuously observing the exclusive economic zone and thwarting illicit operations including terrorism and the trafficking of weapons, drugs, and people. Senior personnel in attendance included Giridhar Aramane, the secretary of defence, Sanjeev Kumar, the secretary of defence production, and Niten Chandra, the secretary of ex-servicemen welfare.