New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday termed the multinational exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ as an effort to strengthen cooperation, coordination and trust with the partner countries and highlighted that it also underscored the growing stature of Indian armed forces.
Addressing the gathering in the second phase of the multinational exercise in Jodhpur, he said that through Tarang Shakti, India has further strengthened its defence ties with all partner countries and instilled confidence among them that whenever the need arises, we all will stand together.
Reiterating India’s vision of mutual coexistence and cooperation, Singh said, “Our nation believes in all nations marching together holding each others hands. When an exercise of such complexity and large magnitude takes place, soldiers with different work cultures, air combat experiences and war fighting principles learn a lot from each other.”
He said, “Today’s landmark event is an opportunity to celebrate the grand achievements of the Indian Air Force. We are not only celebrating the achievements of being the fastest growing economy, but also taking pride that our armed forces are now being considered as one of the most powerful in the world.”
Elaborating further, Singh said, “At the time of independence the IAF had only six squadrons of two types of aircraft. Similarly, the rest of the war equipment was not only old but also limited in number. But today, equipped with the best and modern aircrafts from around the world and next generation equipment, the IAF has transformed itself.”
Referring to the recent collaboration of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with the French company Safran Helicopter Engines, the Defence Minister said that we have transformed ourselves from being only an importer of arms and equipment to a nation which today exports arms and equipment to about 90 countries.
He further said, “Domestic defence sector has taken strong steps towards indigenisation in the manufacturing of weapons, platforms, aircraft. Today we have become self-reliant to a greater extent in the manufacturing of Light Combat Aircraft, Sensors, Radars and in executing electronic warfare.”
Present on the occasion were Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, and others.
The event showcased a display by the Agniveer Vayu Women Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT) and demonstrations from the LCA Tejas, LCH Prachand, Sarang and SKAT teams.
Later, Rajnath Singh inaugurated the International Defence and Aerospace Expo (IDAX-24), which showcased India’s commitment to indigenous defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation.
