Aero India Show: Defence Minister Rajnath met representatives of neighbouring countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Pavilion at Aero India Show in Bengaluru, and said that Aero India is not just a show, but it is the strength of India. Earlier, Air Force Chief VR Chaudhary led the Gurukul formation in the opening ceremony and flew in a fighter jet.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that our aim is to nurture a vibrant and world-class defence manufacturing industry in the country. To achieve this goal, our government has undertaken far-reaching reform measures in the last few years, aimed at creating a business-friendly environment. These major reforms underline almost every aspect of our defence research, development, production and procurement policies.

At the CEO Roundtable Conclave of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India is the 5th largest economy in the world and is poised for an exciting future. We hope to become the third largest economy in the next 5 years. The Indian defence manufacturing industry is one of the key drivers of our rapidly growing economy.

“Without going into specifics, we are looking at a wide range of our military military capabilities through ‘Make in India’ or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” Army Chief General Manoj Pandey said. General Pandey said, “If we look at the armour of the tanks, we are looking for a future-ready tank, which we want to make capable of night operations as well. There, too, we’re seeing better security and better situational awareness.

“In artillery, we are looking at a range of capabilities starting from a mounted gun, improving accuracy, improving engagement of targets at very long ranges and improving strategic capabilities,” Army Chief General Pandey said. We are also looking at our ability to literally move our artillery from one sector to another. It is a work in progress, he said. “It is difficult to set a timeline, but with the kind of ecosystem that is developing in the civil defence industry, the enthusiasm and the potential, I am sure that in the next 8-10 years, we will be able to fight the wars of the future with our indigenous solutions,” he added.

For the first time two American F-35 fighter jets are participating in the ‘Aero India’ show. The US contingent also includes F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft, which have been offered to the Indian armed forces for various requirements.

On the sidelines of the Aero India show, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday met Major General Tariq Ahmed Siddiqui, National Security Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nepal’s Defence Minister Hari Prasad Upreti and Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Defence Premita Bandara.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Nepal’s Defence Minister Hari Prasad, who had come to participate in the Aero India Show. Both the leaders talked about further strengthening Indo-Nepal relations and increasing partnership in the defence sector.

Also Defence Minister of Zimbabwe, Oppah Charm Zvinpange Muchinguri met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
met Defence Minister of Tanzania Basungwa Innocent Lugha in Bengaluru.

Posted By- Uday India