Lucknow: Calling for greater involvement of retired personnel of the Air Force in India’s defence manufacturing efforts, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Saturday said their experience could help connect military users with designers and private manufacturers.Speaking at a memorial lecture at Air Force Station, Kanpur, Singh said: “Veterans understand the operational needs of the armed forces and can help defence companies develop equipment that is practical and suited to actual battlefield requirements.”He urged private firms, Indian manufacturers, foreign design companies and defence organisations to work together on research, development and production. “Developing a weapon or military system is only one part of the challenge. India also needs the capacity to manufacture such equipment in large numbers and within a short time,” he said.Singh said India could not continue to depend on other countries for weapons and military equipment. “Complete self-reliance remains the long-term goal, but alternative solutions should be explored wherever indigenous projects are delayed,” he said.Air Chief Marshal pointed out that Indian Air Force needed to become stronger, self-reliant and better prepared for future conflicts. Innovation, modern technology, increased production capacity and the ability to learn from mistakes would be crucial, he said.Speaking about the changing nature of warfare, Singh said air power had become the “first responder” in conflicts. Air Force could not assume that future operations would be similar to previous ones, as the enemy would also change its plans and preparations. “The force, therefore, needs to keep improving its equipment, tactics and strategies,” he said.On the proposed system of integrated theatre commands, under which the three armed forces would work together through joint commands, Singh said Air Force was not opposed to the idea. However, he said the proposal should be examined carefully and objectively.“We must first identify what is affecting us and what needs to be corrected,” he said, adding that India should create a structure suited to its own requirements instead of copying a model from another country.Singh supported implementing the changes in phases to avoid confusion and minimise disruption, especially when “Operation Sindoor is still alive”. He said decisions should be based on the requirements of India’s armed forces and inputs from all stakeholders.He also stressed the importance of sharing information within the force. “Predictive artificial intelligence and digital twins could help assess future possibilities. Personnel should study every mistake, regardless of who made it, and avoid repeating it,” he said.
