NEW DELHI: Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday mentioned that Operation Sindoor, the punitive strike concentrating on terror bases in Pakistan, served as a “actuality verify” for India’s armed forces, highlighting areas the place the nation can enhance its defence capabilities.Talking on the Southern Command Defence Tech Seminar (STRIDE 2025), Singh famous that the operation revealed sure functionality gaps, together with in digital warfare, counter-unmanned programs, low-level radars and the necessity for a stronger ecosystem to fabricate military-grade drones able to working in GPS-denied and contested environments.“It is fairly clear within the context of the geopolitical state of affairs now that almost all nations are paying numerous consideration to defence and laborious energy once more. Given our neighborhood, India is not any exception, and we have simply had this expertise with Operation Sindoor, which was in some methods a actuality verify for us by way of the place we will do higher, the place we have to adapt to altering wants for future warfare,” Singh mentioned.Within the context of navy operation, defence secretary mentioned that it highlighted sure functionality gaps within the armed forces.These gaps included areas resembling digital warfare, counter-unmanned programs and the necessity for a stronger manufacturing ecosystem for military-grade drones that may function successfully in GPS-denied and contested environments.He additionally pointed to the requirement for enhancements in low-level radar programs. Singh added that these had been areas the place the armed forces acknowledged the necessity to strengthen and improve capabilities.The defence secretary additionally emphasised India’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing, highlighting that 88 per cent of defence capital expenditure in 2024 was spent inside the nation. When requested about options to deal with these functionality gaps, Singh mentioned the armed forces got flexibility by way of emergency procurement guidelines to shortly purchase gear wanted instantly.For the long run, the main focus stays on creating indigenous gear in collaboration with the Defence Analysis and Improvement Organisation (DRDO). Singh added that whereas short-term purchases from world suppliers could also be essential, the last word objective is to realize absolutely indigenous capabilities throughout all areas.He additionally reaffirmed that DRDO would proceed to work on indigenous alternate options for essential programs, guaranteeing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.The defence secretary praised India’s multi-layered air defence system, which carried out successfully throughout navy operation. He mentioned the system prevented main losses or casualties regardless of repeated makes an attempt by drones and missiles to penetrate it.Operation Sindoor was launched on Could 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror assault that killed 26 civilians. It was designed as a focused marketing campaign to dismantle terror infrastructure alongside and past the Line of Management, reflecting precision, professionalism and strategic goal.