Bengaluru, February 12 (HS): Asia's largest arms exhibition 'Aero India', which was going on for three days at Yelahanka Air Force Station, concluded on Wednesday. Now on February 13-14, this exhibition will open for the general public and there will be a chance to see the flypast of aircraft closely during the air display. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called the 15th edition of Aero India a big achievement for India. He said that India is now emerging as a global leader, not just a participant, in sectors like defense innovation and aerospace technology.

At the closing ceremony of 'Aero India', the Defense Minister expressed confidence that exhibitions like Aero India may end physically, but its impact never ends. This defence exhibition is coming to an end, but it is bringing together participants from India and abroad. This exhibition is inspiring new generations by ensuring public-private sector collaboration, which I believe will have a long-lasting impact. Rajnath Singh said that the campaign of self-reliance can be achieved only with the complete satisfaction of the armed forces. All our forces have faith and unwavering trust in the defence industrial complex being set up in India.

The Defence Minister said that the love for the country and patriotism shown by our forces by showing their full trust in indigenous defence products should be appreciated. Our forces have wholeheartedly adopted weapons and all types of war-related equipment manufactured in the country itself. Rajnath Singh said that our government has been trying from the beginning to provide equal opportunities to the private sector by removing uncertainties. We are constantly bringing such policies so that not only the private sector moves forward in defence manufacturing, but the public and private sectors move forward together.

On the one hand, we have ensured maximum private sector participation by changing the defense acquisition process, while on the other hand we have inspired start-ups and innovators to develop frontier and cutting-edge technologies.

The Defense Minister said that today we have a strong defense industrial complex. It includes 16 defense public sector undertakings, 430 licensed companies and about 16 thousand MSMEs. The special thing in this is that the private sector is participating actively towards achieving our goal of self-reliance with a share of 21 percent in the total defense production. Today we are at such a juncture, where fighter jets, missile systems, naval ships or many such equipment and platforms are not only protecting our borders, but they are becoming the center of attraction of the whole world. Today, we are exporting from small artillery to Brahmos and Akash missile systems to many countries of the world. Not only is our defence export increasing, but new partnerships are also developing with different countries globally.

Rajnath Singh said, India has historically been restricting imports for its defence requirements. If we talk about a decade ago, 65 to 70 percent of defence equipment was being imported into our country. Also, if we look at today's situation, then almost the same percentage of defence equipment is being manufactured within the country today. Today our country is going through a revolutionary phase of change. I am very happy to be among you all in the closing ceremony of the 15th Aero India exhibition going on for three days. The heights that 'Aero India', one of the world's major air shows, is touching with your support are not only unique but also historic.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar