India will prepare for Star Wars, says prime minister

NEW DELHI: Observing that India's indigenous defence research was "gaining in confidence", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said the country would embark on production of cutting-edge technology weapons in sensors, robotics, propulsion systems, stealth and fight wars through remote technology.

 

"We plan to go in for precision guided munitions as well as unmanned vehicle technologies in the 11th and 12th Plan period," Singh said as he gave away awards of excellence to the country's top defence scientists here.

 

Impressing upon scientists that such confidence was essential to keep pace with evolution of dual use technologies denied to the country for long, the prime minister said such futuristic weapons systems were needed to contend with transnational actors and unconventional forces which were emerging as threats to the international order.
    
"The Defence Research and Development Organisation aims to create new range of products and technology. These include cutting edge technology in propulsion systems, camouflage and stealth technology, sensors and micro-electromagnetic systems, as well as precision guided munitions, robotics and unmanned vehicle technologies," Singh said after inaugurating the DRDO’s new building adjacent to South Block.
    
As a nation with great stakes in the evolution of stable and rule based international system, the prime minister said, "we must acquire the relevant knowledge and skills, develop innovative capabilities and raise our industrial capabilities for this".