Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh visited Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru on February 16, 2026, to inaugurate the Missile Integration facility and to flag off the Akash third and fourth regiment combat systems while unveiling the Mountain Fire Control Radar. He also remotely inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI) in Pune and formally launched BEL's AI policy. The visit underscored the emphasis on indigenous capability development across defence sectors. During a detailed briefing, he was apprised of advanced indigenous defence technologies and AI based solutions developed by Indian start ups, which highlighted the growing emphasis on innovation and indigenisation in the defence ecosystem. He commended BEL for progress in electronic warfare systems, avionics, naval platforms, electro optics, and tank electronics and observed that integrated systems and real time data sharing were enhancing decision support and network centric operations. The brief indicated that these capabilities were taking combat effectiveness to a new level. Officials outlined ongoing research and development aligned with major national defence programmes including Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile Systems, Light Combat Aircraft Mark II, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and Project Kusha, as well as counter drone and naval weapon control systems. The briefing noted that indigenous R and D initiatives were bolstering operational preparedness across land, air, naval and strategic domains while reducing dependence on foreign technologies. It was highlighted that indigenously developed air defence and anti drone systems had been effectively utilised to neutralise threats during Operation Sindoor and that advances in threat prediction and early warning using AI were instilling operational confidence. He underlined that AI and quantum computing were already influencing real time decision making, autonomous systems, cyber defence and precision operations and exhorted BEL, other defence public sector undertakings and industry partners to remain at the technological forefront. He encouraged collaboration between the R and D community, start ups, industry and academia for agile product development, cross disciplinary innovation and rapid prototyping to support the vision of a Viksit Bharat. Senior ministry and BEL officials, start ups and young scientists participated in the event.