'Whoever ready to share tech with India': Defence secy on balancing ties with US, Russia

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Monday that India is moving towards indigenisation and technology transfer as New Delhi's focus shifts from dependence on countries like US and Russia.

Speaking at the Network18's Reforms Reloaded summit in New Delhi, Singh suggested that playing the balancing act between the two powerful countries is no longer India's priority.

Asked how India is balancing defence ties with US and Russia, especially amid trade volatility with the Trump administration, Singh said: “PM Modi has made it clear that the balancing is on the fringes. The main focus is on indigenisation. We will either design or make our own or have a ToT and make within India. Whichever country is ready to share critical technology we can go with those countries. We will go by our service requirements and take decisions based on cost-benefit ratio. We will have adequate opportunities in our defence budgets for both the countries."

Russia has historically been India's top defence partner, accounting for a majority of its arms imports. However, US has been trying wean India away from Russia by boosting security ties with New Delhi over the last few years.

The defence secretary added that procurement activity remains strong, with major contracts lined up.

“We are about to sign contracts worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore and we can do another Rs 75,000 crore worth of contracts. Last year we did Rs 2.09 lakh crore, we will do at least that much if not more,” he said.

On India’s potential acquisition of fifth-generation fighter jets from US, Singh said the government was mindful of immediate capability gaps but also of ongoing negotiations.

“If you don't have 5th gen aircraft immediately or if negotiations are ongoing, you can still offset advantage by having larger number of 4 and 4.5 gen fighters and equip them with weapons. The IAF has capability gaps, and the govt will work on filling those gaps,” he said.

He added that procurement decisions are expected in the near future. “You will see some procurement decisions soon vis-a-vis 5th gen fighter jets. We should talk about procurements when it is cleared by DAC or top level in the government. Talking about it beforehand makes too much (unnecessary) noise,” Singh noted.