New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday outlined a multi-pronged strategy to accelerate arms procurement, restructure the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and build a sovereign defence industrial ecosystem.

Speaking at the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Annual Conference in Delhi, Singh emphasised a shift from rigid public-sector dominance to an equal partnership with private enterprise; the Defence Secretary framed domestic manufacturing as both a pillar of strategic autonomy and an engine of national economic growth.

Addressing recurring concerns regarding bureaucratic delays in high-value defence acquisitions, such as jet engines and multi-role fighter aircraft, the Def...