India Eyes Sixth-Generation Fighter Jets in Push for Future-Ready Defence

India is working towards developing sixth-generation fighter jets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday, signalling a long-term push to modernise the country's air power and build advanced indigenous defence technologies. Addressing the NDTV Defence Summit, Singh said India is developing capabilities keeping in mind the next 10 to 25 years of warfare, while acknowledging that the sixth-generation programme would involve significant technological challenges.

“We are building capabilities with the warfare of the next 10 to 20-25 years in mind. We want India not merely to import technology, but to define it,” he said. The proposed sixth-generation effort forms part of a broader defence modernisation strategy focused on preparing the armed forces for increasingly technology-driven conflicts. Singh said future warfare would extend beyond conventional land, sea and air domains to include cyber, space, electronic and information warfare, alongside artificial intelligence, drones and autonomous systems.

The minister's remarks also underline the strategic importance of indigenous technology development. He said large-scale efforts were underway to manufacture defence equipment in India, including aircraft and drone engines, with the objective of reducing dependence on foreign technology and strengthening domestic defence manufacturing.

India is also pursuing advanced technologies such as hypersonic weapons and scramjet propulsion. Singh said a flight trial of a long-range hypersonic missile had been successfully conducted and a long-duration scramjet engine tested. The sixth-generation ambition could involve technologies associated with future air combat, including greater autonomy, advanced sensors, networked operations and manned-unmanned teaming, although Singh did not provide specific programme details.

On strategic security, Singh said India seeks peace and dialogue but would protect its strategic autonomy and national security. Referring to Pakistan, he said India remained free to undertake “all forms of strikes” if the neighbouring country persisted with what he described as a “state policy of terrorism”. Singh also highlighted the expansion of India's defence exports, which rose to ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, from ₹686 crore in 2013-14. India has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.