India would have had a fullscope indigenous defence program in the way we managed in space, atomic energy and missile technology. Correctly, from the start, the Secretaries of the relevant departments have simultaneously headed the program, reporting directly to the Prime Minister. Generalists have their own relevance, but in highly technical areas, getting a file cleared would have been a far slower process through the multiple layers of the administrative system. It is also a fact that the present is even more an era of specialistion than was the situation in the past.
A fighter pilot serving or retired may be forgiven for clinging on to the belief that fighter aircraft are what is needed, whereas in modern warfare, missiles and drones play a far more significant role than fighter aircraft, which have become highly vulnerable to missiles in particular. However, there is a far greater danger to our security than specialized Heads of Department being dismissive of methods other than their specialization. This is the dent in national security caused by what resembles termites within the policymaking system. These are the amalgam of (a) retired and serving officials, (b) former and serving armed forces personnel, (c) a section of the political class, and (d) middlemen for foreign arms systems. They combine in efforts to choke at infancy indigenous development of technology in the Army, Navy and Air Force and steer policymakers towards foreign options.
Every system has its teething troubles, and these or imaginary imperfections in the indigenously developed product are highlighted, including majorly in the media, As a consequence, indigenous efforts are neglected in favour of imports, which are several times more expensive over their life cycles than indigenous equipment. Not that technology partnerships should be shunned. Brahmos is an example of a cutting edge defence system developed jointly by Russia and India since 1998. The Indian input has been invaluable, as the Russians would acknowledge. The HF-24 Marut, a fighter aircraft that was killed in infancy by the termites of the period, was designed by a German national Dr Kurt Tank, who loved India. The quality of scientific talent available in India may be gauged from the fact that NASA has for decades been seeking a partnership with ISRO, but for a long time was prevented from doing so less by Indian than by US authorities. Of course, each such pairing has to be with friendly countries and should ensure that India has not put in much more than the other side, As the old adage has it, friendship is almost always possible only among equals. Additionally, given the fact that India is on track to become the third superpower by 2034, the country is entitled to equality of treatment even with the US.
Constant vigil is needed against those seeking to belittle our own achievements in diverse fields, or worse, to gain access to original work by entering into a partnership designed not for mutual benefit but for the input gained by the other party. The seas which we are traversing in our galleon are often treacherous, and very definitely Prime Minister Modi would be aware of conditions, and ensure inter alia that the nibbling away of termites at the wood. Watch needs to be constantly maintained not just on external threats and challenges but also on internal ones that in past decades chipped away at self-reliance. During Modi 3.0, it is anticipated that the termite menace will cease. The two defence corridors visualised and implemented by him are a reassuring sign that self-reliance in defence infrastructure that is critical in the hybrid war that is being waged against Bharat, i.e., India is on track towards fulfilment.