Modi made the statement at a ceremony in Mumbai for the commissioning of the country's biggest locally built warship.
"Our aim is to achieve such prowess in our defence capabilities that no country dare cast an evil eye on India," Modi told naval officers and other dignitaries.
India, the second most populous nation in the world, is in the midst of a $100-billion defence upgrade programme.
Modi's new government has raised the foreign investment cap on India's defence industries to speed up modernisation of the military.
India has fought three wars with nuclear-armed rival Pakistan, two of them over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
The country has also been seeking to shore up its defence capabilities to counter a military build-up by an increasingly assertive China.
Modi said India must stop relying so heavily on defence imports and focus instead on local research, design and manufacture.
India is the world's largest arms importer with the United States recently overtaking Russia as the biggest arms supplier, followed by France and Israel.
"This warship has been built by India's engineers, technicians and defence experts," the premier, considered a hardline nationalist, said in Mumbai.
"It is the biggest example yet of what we can make in India," Modi said.
"It is the aim of this government to take India from its position of importing every little piece of military hardware to a position where we can export equipment."
Modi's right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in May after a landslide general election win.
The 6,800-tonne INS Kolkata is fitted with the most advanced weapons systems, sensors and communication technology.
It is expected to strengthen to India's maritime capabilities and help secure its huge strategic interests in the region stretching from the Gulf to the Malacca Strait.
COMMENTS (43)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732445375-0/Untitled-design-(9)1732445375-0-270x192.webp "sinkhole shuts victoria s great alpine road")
1732428810-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(3)1732428810-0-270x192.webp "philippine vp sara duterte warns of assassination plot against president if she is killed")
1732425487-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(42)1732425487-0.jpg "us senator lindsey graham warns uk over netanyahu arrest")
All the weapons proved useless for the US, Israel, and others against poor impoverished Afghans, Iraqis, Lebanese, and Palestinians. What chance does India have against a strong, nuclearized Pakistan? I want to know how much kickbacks is Modi getting for these defense contracts.
Solution to Kashmir lies in dialogue and negotiations, not through bullying and firing on Pakistani/Kashmiri civilians. Believe me, you don't want to be on the wrong side of the Muslim nations. Ask Israel how boycotts can hurt their economy.
@Rangoonwala:
Remember Longewala? If India is so bad, then what of Pakistan which lost every single war with India?!
We have got a leader who is doing . Give this man 10 years and reap benefits for next 100 years .
@Here we go again!: There are only two forces people understand, Money and Power. We need to be able to project the power. Russia cannot come to our help every time like it did in 1971 against Americans who sent their 7th brigade with USS enterprise to support you know who but were defeated in their designs. We need to be able to protect our interest not only in the region but outside as well...
@Rangoonwala: Yup mongols make good bows and arrows and they also make very good leather whips that we import for whooping neighboring backs like in 1965, 1971 and 1999 and if you have any doubts about who won those wars read this article from dawn...
This is what you always liked anyway... Being flogged...
http://www.dawn.com/news/1125484/what-is-the-most-blatant-lie-taught-through-pakistan-textbooks
@Here we go again!: We are worried about Zaid Hamid and his followers' ghazwa-e-hind.
Very Sad! Can't believe how educated smart & brilliant Indians too fall victim to their leaders persistent " Scare & Rule" tactic. Find the meaning if "P A R A N O I D" please and see if you guys realy don't fit in that category! I mean who is after India? Exactly "Who" want "What" from India? Trade winds that used to lead to India centuries ago & Spice Route Wars are over.
@Rangoonwala - "Maybe you could rent some Gurkhas to defend you?"
Its still better to rent some Gurkhas, than being rented as Gurkhas for someone - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain (to crush Shia uprisings).. Hope you got the clue...
@Rangoonwala: Yup the non martial people of India kept 95000 of Martial people as PoW. Not to mention the other wars where martial people had their tails between the legs and were running post to pillar to their masters. You are right, I think Indian non martial people can take care of you martial people even with horses and bow and arrow.
@Rangoonwala: Are you a Rohingya from Rangoon or what? or are you still living in the middle ages when you fought with swords riding on horses? May be you are unable to think beyond your peanuts military budget.
@Rangoonwala: Indians not being a martial race has been proven wrong in 1965 when Pakistan attacked us and again in 1971 and then in 1999. It is true India will not start a war but it will defend itself.
But there is a reason that present day Pakistan had Muslim majority even in 1947. The people there offered no resistance whatsoever to intruders getting converted instead. Your army only does well when it is bombin its own unarmed people. Your jets never flew. When your soldiers were being bombed in Salala.
@rangoonwala last time you fingered these not-so-martial people you ended up losing half of your country..continue doing so at your own peril.
@Rangoonwala... May be you guys need it more.. Just look at your backyard.. Everyday.. in and out.. next will be you for sure
@Gp65: The Mongols makes some good bow and arrows. That should help, plus they are cheap. You are right, never again, India must be armed. With swords, lances knives, slingshots etc. See,...there is a slight problem,...er..Indians are not martial people. That is why they were conquered by every passing warlord, brigand, minor king, major king. Maybe you could rent some Gurkhas to defend you? P.S...Turkmenistan has a sale going,.. on horses. 10% off.
@Jahangir Chauhan: War monger? He said the best war is one that is not fought. Defense preparedness prevents wars. Nehru underinvested in defense and we paid the price in 1962. Earlier, India was rich but did not have much of an army and we were repeatedly attacked and enslaved by Afghans and British. Not again. Never again. Defense and development must go hand in hand.
I would be more impressed if he can work like real statesman and bring revolution in India's relation with all the countries. If he had more diplomacy skill he would have made true economic friendship with China predicated on pure grounds of interdependence. Similarly with diplomacy he could make Pak Army irrelevant in Pak politics then there wouldn't be any need for strong defense and huge amount of defense spends in India. Indian Army can also be managed by initiating development program, engaging the army.
@Jahangir Chauhan: abe miyan we know who attacked whom. ;we will not sit quietly anymore.
@Jahangir Chauhan Yes, India needs these defense weapons as it feels a bit insecure from two big friendly neighbors, whose mind changes anytime, any moment, no body knows.
India is not a selfish nation. India will ensure same treatment to any country as it receives. If any country offers to turn India to ashes, India needs to do the same to that country.
So no need to get tensed, as the money for the development of the weapons is not coming from your pocket. Have a good day.
@someone
Haha. That's a funny truth!!
@Hobi Haripur wala: We have some of those to handle Pakistan. This one is not for you. Don't be a scared chicken now.
Just buy another rusting aircraft carrier. you should be fine.
Modi: The PM as Prime Mover +++++++++++++++++++++++ More than a PM...a Leader of a nation of 1.2 Bil/lion.
@Vectra: Comapre Modi with Pappu.
He is a war monger Building defence for what do not they have good enough defence that they feel insecure to build more mountains of war planes, tanks bullets and bombs.his intention to wage wars.
Well done Modiji. Jai hind
@unbelievable: Well US ha many times the nukes that India has. At the same time the defense budget of US equals the sum of defense budget of the next 10 countries.
What is enough is determined by one's security needs. Over the years a conscious attempt has ben made o reduce defense as a percentage of GDP and now it is lower than education as a percentage of GDP - as it should be.
India is a country that has been repeatedly attacked and enslaved for centuries because though Idnians were prosperous, they did nit invest adequately in defense. That has to change.
Unlike Iraq, whom aUs ombed in 2003 by falsely accusin of WMD and Iran whom it has bullied through sanctions because it wanted to become nuclear, actually being nuclear has protected India from bullying by US.
Modi is a confirmed killer of Muslims in gujrat but at least he is faithful to his Hindu public. Our PMLN is only loyal to their immediate family members n their masters in Saudi Arabia.
@ wiserneighbour: Sahbaz Sharrif also calls himself a "Khadim-E-Aala". In my view Sharrif brothers have good intentions for the development of Pakistan. Unfortunately there are too many power centers in Pakistan who are all pulling in different directions.
So when is "enough"? Both Pakistan and India developed Nukes with the supposed purpose to defer anyone from attacking them ---- then immediately proceeded to build up expensive conventional weapons systems. Anecdotal evidence that that nukes don't provide the protection you thought - also anecdotal evidence that maybe the American's were right when they said that nukes would increase risk/instability in the region.
He said in his independence speech, he is not prime minister but prime servant of the country.We need leaders like you Modiji!
Good Luck PM Modi!
This man looks seriously workaholic and dedicated.Finally after Indira Gandhi and atal bihari vajpayee this man looks promising.
Modi z our pride........ as PUTIN z pride of Russia,Netnyahu z pride of ISRAEL,Edorgan z pride of TURKEY,ABE z pride of JAPAN similarly MODI for INDIA......
We are lucky to have you as our PM, Modiji....
very true......!!!! even though we need more defense research....
Modi leading India is inspirational.. Our leaders need to learn from him.. Instead of road show madness...
Finally we have found a "leader" Economy, Science & Defence , i am sure Modi will make new definitions for these words.
PM Modi is 100% right.