New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asked DRDO to aim for the systems with technologies that remain contemporary for next 10-15 years so that the armed forces maintain technological superiority. Addressing the 41st DRDO Directors' conference here, he called upon DRDO fraternity to imbibe the working ethos of former President Bharat Ratna Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. He stated that defence research and development and manufacturing has the potential to provide highest employment, direct or indirect. According to a Defence Ministry release, the minister said technology also has its limitations and development of products have a gestation period. "For such complex systems, the technical requirements keep evolving during the development cycle. Spiral development of these systems should be preferred option," he said.

He lauded DRDO for achieving the 100 days' target and identifying milestones to commemorate 75 years of Independence and the roadmap for 5 years. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said DRDO has a seminal role in making India technologically strong. He mentioned that in modern war, technology and finance would decide the outcome. Noting that need-based technology will enable India to have an edge over its adversaries, he said critical technologies should be developed indigenously. The DRDO is the only organisation which can take up system integration and should further strengthen it, he said. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat expressed confidence that future wars will be won with indigenous systems.