News Analysis India

Tag: Rajnath Singh

  • PM Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari should hold talks with farm unions: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Union ministers like Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari should hold talks with farmers’ unions to resolve the deadlock over ongoing protest against the three new agriculture laws.

    He said differences regarding the implementation of agriculture reforms can be resolved through deliberations.

    Pawar was speaking to reporters in Baramati, his hometown in Pune district.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers like Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari should hold talks with farmers’ organisations,” he said.

    “Piyush Goyal is from Mumbai and I don’t know how much he knows about agriculture,” he said.

    Goyal and a few other union ministers have been holding talks with the farmer representatives to break the impasse.

    Pawar said agriculture was a state subject and laws should be enacted after consultations with the state governments.

    “There can be differences over implementation of agriculture reforms, which can be resolved through deliberations,” the former Union agriculture minister said.

    According to him, laws for agriculture reforms were being discussed since 2003 when Vajpayee was the prime minister.

    “In my time, discussions used to take place with the state governments since agriculture is a state subject. A committee of agriculture ministers of nine states was formed to study and prepare a draft law, which was headed by the then Maharashtra minister Harshvardhan Patil.

    “The draft was prepared and states were asked to discuss it. But the present government has prepared its own law and got it passed in the Parliament amid chaos and without discussion,” he said.

    “There was no consultation and the states were not taken into confidence. Agriculture reforms have to be done when required. Differences if any can be resolved through talks,” he said.

    When asked about BJP leader Narayan Rane’s remark that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Sindhudurg on Sunday would be a good omen to pave the way for fall of the MVA government in the state, Pawar said, “Rane is an old colleague and I didn’t know that he cracks such jokes. His remarks should be seen as a political joke and nothing more than that.”

  • Start-ups to drive Indian economy soon, says Defence Minister at Aero India

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU: The latest version of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 allows start-ups to participate in Make-in-India forums and reserves projects up to Rs 100 crore for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

    Speaking at the “Start-up Manthan” organised on the last day of three-day Aero India 2021, the Minister said the Indian economy is soon going to be driven by start-ups and the government is acutely conscious of the fact that as they are the latest entrants in the defence manufacturing sector, they require an extra push.

    The government is taking several steps, including opening up the patents and laboratories of DRDO to private industry, setting up of Young Scientists labs in niche technology areas, programmes like iDEX, Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and iDEX4Fauji, he said, adding that 45 MSMEs that participated in Aero India received orders worth Rs 203 crore.

    Singh said the iDEX initiative is a decisive step towards achieving self-reliance and is one of the most effective and well-executed defence start-up ecosystems in the true spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He said 60 winners out of more than 1,200 start-ups and innovators who participated in the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) have received grants of up to Rs 1.5 crore each to build prototypes. He also asked Ministry of Defence officials to consider increasing the finance available to Innovation for Defence Excellence (IDEX) start-ups.

    Stating that Start-Up India was based on three pillars — simplification and handholding, funding and incentives and incubation and industry-academia partnerships — he added that it has created an ecosystem of over 41,000 start-ups, 4.7 lakh jobs and Rs 4,500 crore of investment in 384 start-ups through Fund of Funds Scheme.

    Over 300 start-ups are currently engaged and iDEX 10 start-ups have developed products worth Rs 100 core that were displayed in Aero India 2021, he said, adding that iDEX4Fauji opens up a new window allowing Indian soldiers and service personnel to be recognized and rewarded as innovators.

    He mentioned the innovations done in the field of robotics in maritime applications by Lt. Deepak Suman Kumar and wall penetrating radar by Major Anoop Mishra as examples. The minister handed over certificates of recognition to innovators under iDEX4Fauji and DISC 4 challenges at the event.

  • Govt’s endeavour is to bring down defence imports by USD 2 billion by next year: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said with an aim of encouraging the manufacture of defence related items in the country, the government’s endeavour is also to bring down its defence imports by at least USD two billion by 2022.

    Speaking at the Aero India-2021 here, he also said the aerospace sector has an important role to play, if India has to reach its targets of domestic defence production of USD 25 billion and exports of USD five billion by 2025.

    “With an aim of encouraging the manufacture of defence related items in India, our endeavour will remain to bring down defence imports by at least USD two billion by 2022.

    Between 2016 and 2019, as many as 138 proposals worth over USD 37 billion for domestic manufacturing have been approved,” Singh said.

    The order for 83 LCA MK 1A worth over Rs 48,000 crore that has been given by the government will give a big boost to domestic manufacturing and especially to the aviation industry, he said, adding it would spawn new and resilient supply chains.

    “The negative list of 101 items for import also means to provide opportunities for the domestic manufacturing sector to strengthen their base and contribute to Aatma Nirbhar Bharat,” he added.

    Singh said this was the 13th edition of Aero India and the event has evolved over a period of time to become one of the world’s premium aero shows.

    Strategic ties had been forged that are poised to transform the defence and aerospace manufacturing in the country.

    “We have signed 128 MoUs, 19 ToTs, 4 Handing Overs, 18 Product Launches and 32 Major Announcements, totaling a grand figure of 201 feats.

    Further, 45 MSMEs participating in Aero India 21 have already bagged orders worth Rs 203 crore. This is a major achievement,” he said.

    Noting that the fountainhead of any capability emerges from the robustness of its foundation, the Defence Minister said the country’s foundation of vision rested on three pillars of Research and Development, Public and Private Defence Production and Defence Exports.

    Initiatives have been taken to encourage and facilitate private sector research and development initiatives, he said.

    Speaking about Defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Singh said, as part of this initiative Rs 3,700 crore and Rs 3,100 crore have already been pledged by the public and private industries.

    Further the plan entails USD three billion investment in the corridors to improve the investment climate and facility, he said.

    “We realise, appreciate and understand that in a highly specialised and technology driven environment, a collaborative, cooperative and collective approach to defence production and exports is the way forward.” A large number of initiatives have been taken to invite and facilitate the partnership of major companies from across the world and to become a part of Indias defence industrial initiative, he said, adding it was with this objective that FDI cap in the sector was raised to 74 per cent from 49 per cent in August last year.

    A robust domestic manufacturing base relates directly to the potential for defence exports.

    “We plan to move from a USD 11 billion defence base to USD 25 billion by 2025. Of this, we further intend to create an export component of USD five billion,” the Minister said.

    During the period 2015-2020, defence exports grew from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 9,000 crore.

    It was also important to note that a vast majority of our defence exports are being spearheaded by the private sector, he said.

    Singh also said the Indian aerospace industry, both military and civil, stands uniquely poised today, on the threshold of catapulting itself into the global arena, adding that the aero components sector is set to grow from Rs.30,000 crores today to Rs 60,000 crores by 2024.

  • Self-reliance in defence manufacturing is crucial for India’s strategic autonomy, says Rajnath Singh

    By ANI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that attaining self-reliance in manufacturing of defence equipment is a crucial factor for maintaining India’s strategic autonomy.

    Addressing the ‘Startup Manthan’ at Aero India 2021, Defence Minister said, “Our Government is acutely conscious that startups being the latest entrants in the defence manufacturing sector require that extra push. With this aim in view, we have taken many steps to foster and encourage this partnership with private industry.”

    “Attaining self-reliance in manufacturing of defence equipment is a crucial factor for maintaining India’s strategic autonomy. Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative stands out as one of the most effective and well-executed defence Start-up ecosystems created in our country,” said Defence Minister.

    This comes after a contract to manufacture 83 LCA Tejas fighters was handed over to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by the Defence Ministry at the Aero India 2021 on Wednesday.

    Further speaking on the Startup India campaign in India, he added: “Startup India was based on three major pillars — simplification and handholding, funding and incentives and industry-academia partnerships.”

    “Rs 4500 crores of investment made in 384 startups through funds of fund scheme. Our economy is soon going to be driven by the startups,” said Rajnath Singh.

    The Defence Minister said that the Start-up Manthan is going to provide a unique opportunity for start-ups to showcase their capabilities, products and services to the “targeted audience of industry leaders and business decision makers.”

    “iDEX Open Challenge initiative creates opportunities for innovators to propose ways for harnessing their technological capabilities to strengthen our nation’s military capability. Anyone with an idea that can be used in defence and aerospace can apply under this initiative,” Singh added.

    As 45 MSMEs received orders worth Rs 203 Crore, Singh said,”I am very happy to announce , that 45 MSMEs who have participated in Aero India have already got orders worth Rs 203 Cr. This is a very heartening news and I am sure it will grow further in the times to come.”

    On Thursday, Defence Minister had said that India is ready to supply various types of missile systems, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and other weapons systems including missiles, helicopters, tanks and artillery guns to friendly foreign countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

    “India is ready to supply various types of missile systems, LCA/helicopters, multi-purpose light transport aircraft, warship and patrol vessels, artillery gun systems, tanks, radars, military vehicles, electronic warfare systems and other weapons systems to IOR nations,” Singh had said at IOR Defence Ministers’ Conclave in Bengaluru. 

  • ‘One’s threat today may be another’s tomorrow’: India seeks to rally Indian Ocean Region countries

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, in an apparent reference to the disputed South China Sea, said conflicting claims in some maritime areas have seen negative impact, amid continued border standoff with China.

    Maritime resources will be key to sustained growth and development of nations across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in the ongoing century, he said delivering his keynote address at the IOR Defence Ministers’ Conclave held on the margins of Aero India-2021, India’s premier defence and aerospace show.

    “We have already seen the negative impact of conflicting claims in some maritime areas of the world.

    We must, therefore, ensure that the maritime expanse of the Indian Ocean is peaceful and is optimally harnessed for the benefit of all nations in the region,” the Minister said.

    China and India are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 last.

    The two countries have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the face-off, but no significant headway has been made so far.

    The United States and China are currently engaged in a bitter confrontation over various issues, including the aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea.

    In his address, Singh said IOR countries have together demonstrated their mutual respect for a rules based order, setting an example of how abiding with international law will enable harnessing the global commons for the good of all.

    He said the conclave is an initiative to promote dialogue in an institutional and cooperative environment that can foster the development of peace, stability and prosperity in the IOR.

    India being the largest country and having a vast coastline of 7500 Km in the IOR region, has to play an active role for peaceful and prosperous co-existence of all IOR countries, he said.

    “We all have a shared asset, that is, the Indian Ocean,” Singh said.

    “It is an important lifeline to international trade and transport as it commands control of major sea-lanes carrying half of the worlds container ships, one third of the worlds bulk cargo traffic and two thirds of the worlds oil shipments.” The present maritime security scenario in IOR is posing a number of challenges such as piracy, smuggling of drugs/people and arms, humanitarian and disaster relief, and Search & Rescue (SAR).

    Maritime collaboration and co-operation among IOR countries can help meet these challenges effectively and efficiently and ensure peace and stability in the region.

    “We, therefore, have to join hands in looking at these threats in unison, because ones threat today may be anothers tomorrow,” he said.

    “In order to synergise efforts of all IOR countries to ensure safety and security in this region, it is high time that we take our economy, trade, naval cooperation and collaboration to the higher level,” Singh added.

    According to an official statement, Defence Ministers, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and senior officials from 27 of 28 countries from the region attended the event physically or in virtual mode.

  • We can protect Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU: In a tangential way, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sought to reaffirm and redefine India’s traditional role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as against China’s aggressive agenda, by offering to take on the task of being a net security provider in the IOR. “India can be a reliable partner in the region and we can take on the role of being a net security provider here,” said Singh here on Wednesday.

    Addres s ing the Chiefs of Air Staff conclave, attended by senior officers from 26 countries, he emphasised the need for these countries to work together and towards the common goal of maintaining peace in the region. The conclave is one of the highlights of Aero India 2021 that started on Wednesday, and senior officers from friendly nations are attending the twoday session virtually. Singh said IOR is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and is prone to natural calamities that cause extensive damage to lives and properties.

    India can be a reliable partner as it looks forward to cooperation from friendly countries to create a more stable environment, he added. He said that new technologies are changing the way battles will be fought in the future and India is focused on building those capabilities. On the role played by the Indian Air Force and its drive for self-reliance, he said that India’s defence acquisition policy has created an ideal environment and it is the best time for foreign firms to invest in the country.

    Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said there is a need to enhance cooperation among air forces of friendly nations. The advent of new technologies has complicated the art of fighting wars and a threat may emanate several time zones away but can have an impact at some other place.

    ‘IAF developing UAV capabilities’

    Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria added, “We are closely watching the threat posed by technologies like drones. The Indian Air Force is developing capabilities in unmanned aircraft and anti-drone capabilities and technologies.” He said that LCA Tejas is one of the best aircraft in its class and IAF is also developing an advanced medium combat aircraft.Senior officers from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA, Iran, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Myanmar and other countries are taking part in the conclave.

    CM: MRO UNITS PLANNED IN B’LURU, HASSAN Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday said the State Government is planning to set up maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities near Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli, and in Hassan. The acquisition of land for the Hassan airport project is completed, while an aerospace park near KIA was set up in 2008. With excellent connectivity and surplus power, it is the best state for investment in defence and aerospace sectors, he said

  • India prepared to counter, defeat any misadventure on its territory: Rajnath Singh

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: As Aero India 2021, that displays Indian defence sector’s ability to make state-of-the-art fighter jets and helicopters, took off with a spectacular flying display at the Yelahanka Air Base on Wednesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sent out a strong message to hostile neighbours saying India is prepared to counter any threat and protect its sovereignty at any cost. Rajnath highlighted the current security scenario in the neighbourhood as well as the rising demand in the civil aviation and defence sector to woo foreign companies to come with big investments to India to set up facilities to exploit the huge potential.

    Inaugurating the three-day event, attended by over 600 firms from across the globe, Rajnath said India faces threats and challenges emanating from multiple fronts and it has been a victim of state-sponsored terrorism. “Like many of our friendly countries, India also faces threats and challenges emanating from multiple fronts. India is a victim of state-sponsored and state-inflicted terrorism which is now a global threat. We long witnessed unfortunate attempts to change the status quo along our unresolved borders. We are vigilant and prepared to counter and defeat any misadventure to defend our people and territorial integrity at all costs,” he said. 

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa at Aero India in Bengaluru on WednesdayRajnath said the government’s vision is to make India one of the biggest countries in the defence sector from design to production. “We have set a target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore, including export of Rs 35,000 crore, in aerospace and defence and services by 2024,” he said. “We plan to spend $130 billion on defence modernisation in the next seven to eight years,” he added.

    “India has the fastest growing civil aviation market in the world with a rising passenger and cargo traffic. Therefore, demand for aircraft and related supply chain is also increasing. India has a huge potential for foreign investment in the aerospace sector, especially in manufacturing aero engines and maintenance, repair and overall segment, for which I invite foreign companies to set up facilities in India,” he added. Aero India has laid a strong foundation for cooperation among countries of the Indian Ocean Region for peace and stability in the region, he said.

    The three-day expo took off with an impressive inaugural aerobatic fly-past and display on Wednesday after Rajnath inaugurated the event. After providing a trailer of the joint performance India’s two most popular aerobatic teams – Surya Kiran and Sarang – at the full dress rehearsal on Tuesday, the two teams put out an even better show at the inaugural with both teams doing several tangoes during their aerobatics jointly. 

    Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and Sukhoi MKI of the Indian Air Force displayed a powerful aerobatic performance individually, while Rafale opened the display, being the IAF’s latest acquisition.The inaugural event also featured India’s indigenous products – LCA trainer (LIFT Trainer), HTT-40, Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), Advanced Hawk Mk 132 and Civil Do-228 – all flying together in a special formation called ‘Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight’ to a rousing applause from spectators, which included several defence chiefs from various countries.

    One of the major attractions at the inaugural of the event was the flight display of the US Air Force’s B-1B Lancer heavy bomber, a supersonic aircraft with a flying range of 12,000 km, and weighing about 87 tonnes, which exclusively landed in Bengaluru to participate in Aero India 2021 after a total flight duration of 26 hours.During the fly past of the B-1B heavy bomber, the massive aircraft was accompanied by Indian Air Force’s own Tejas, looking like a bee escorting an elephant!

  • India can take on the role of net security provider in Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India can take on the role of being the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region as geopolitically it is a reliable partner in the IOR.

    “We live in a challenging geo-political landscape where countries not only have to face the threat of military aggression, but natural calamities which include pandemics like COVID-19 which has wreaked havoc in the last one year,” Singh said.

    Therefore, when faced with threats across multiple dimensions, it is imperative for the nation to strengthen relations with countries with whom it shared converging views on key global issues, he said,addressing the inaugural session of Chiefs of the Air Staff Conclave at Aero India here. “Geopolitically India is a reliable partner in the Indian Ocean Region and can take on the role of being the net security provider in the region,” he added.

    Noting that air power has and would continue to play a critical role in maintaining regional stability and peace in the region, Singh said freedom of manoeuvre provided by air and space capabilities enables the nation to influence in a sustainable and clearly escalable manner.

    He said that the Indian Air force is at the very forefront of offensive capabilities with its reach, speed and precision. “India’s unique disposition in the IOR, complimented by a potent airlift capability of IAF, enables it to contribute significantly in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions,” he said.

    Singh noted that India has been regularly conducting exercises to deepen HADR cooperation and coordination among its neighbours with a focus on sharing expertise and assisting building capabilities. He also said that the recent conflicts had shown the potency of emerging technologies and India is heavily focused on building these capabilities. “We are keen to cooperate with our defence partners in these niche technologies with focus on knowledge sharing and co-production,” he added.

    Officials said that the Chiefs of the Air Staff Conclave today had physical representation from 26 countries, while 14 were in attendance virtually. They said that the Conclave has been planned with three sessions to address the themes of disruptive technologies and innovations, air power in Indo-Pacific region and air power and airspace strategies.

    Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, in his keynote address, said “we have witnessed a paradigm change in the Geo-political landscape in recent years and globally, we are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, volatility and interconnected threats.

    ” While the world was grappling with complications and control of the pandemic, the worsening inter-state relations, rising mistrust and geopolitical tensions have only reinforced the importance of mature and balanced cooperation at international level, he said.

    “We need to strengthen our mutual understanding and existing security frameworks based on the principles of Cooperation, Collaboration and Coexistence,” he said, adding that for India, the security challenges are as varied as its geography and as unpredictable as the nation’s threats.

    Noting that the nature of warfare has changed significantly in the last few years, the air chief said advent of new technologies and cross linking of ‘Physical’, ‘Digital’ and ‘Cognitive’ domains has complicated the art of war fighting considerably.

    “Our understanding of national boundaries has shifted well beyond the classical definitions of airspaces, land borders and shorelines. An attack may originate without warning, several time zones away, and its effect may proliferate rapidly across several domains. Also, the exponential technological progress made in the last few years has made the realm of sub-con warfare more complex,’ Bhadauria said.

    He said that the low cost and easy availability of simple disruptive technology like drones with small state and non-state actors have made them more lethal, agile and capable of generating disproportionate effects.

    “We are closely observing these developments and are focusing on developing capabilities in unmanned, and optionally manned platforms, manned-unmanned teaming, and anti-drone technologies,” he added.

  • DRDO continuously developing technology for new India, says Rajnath Singh

    By ANI
    BENGALURU: Asserting that India has to focus on new goals for new India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is continuously developing technology that will help the country in achieving these goals.

    “Today, when the world is changing so fast and a new world order is emerging in front of us. We have to focus on new goals for our new India, I am happy to see that the DRDO is continuously developing technology that will help us in achieving these goals,” Singh said in Bengaluru at Aero India 2021.

    “It is in pursuit of these goals that we had many successful trials recently like Akash NG Missile, Anti-Radiation Missile-RUDRAM and MRSAM. In many of our tests, we have got success in our maiden attempt itself, this is our great achievement,” he added.

    Commenting on the recent decision of induction of 83 TEJAS into Indian Air Force (IAF) by the government and the successes of indigenously developed systems like bombs, radars sonar, communication systems and armaments, he said the induction reflects the role of DRDO towards self-reliant India. “I have come to know that last year, 225 Licenses Agreements were signed by DRDO with industry. This shows the industries’ trust in homegrown technologies developed by DRDO,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was also displayed at the event in coastal defence role. Indian Navy is going to induct the missile as part of the Next Generation Maritime Marine Coastal Defence battery role.

    “We have already demonstrated the underwater launch capability of the BrahMos missile. Whenever the Indian Navy makes submarines indigenously, I am 100 per cent sure that the BrahMos submarine-launched version would be equipped on it,” BrahMos DG Sudhir Mishra told ANI.

    American B-1B Lancer aircraft also took part in the show. The aircraft flew from an American airbase in South Dakota, United States for over 26 hours to reach the city.

    Moreover, Singh was briefed by a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) official about the VIP version of an indigenous chopper at the show. 

  • India prepared to defend territorial integrity at all costs, says Rajnath at Aero India launch

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU: As Aero India 2021, which will showcase the Indian defence sector’s ability to make state of the art fighter jets and helicopters, took off with a spectacular flying display, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sent out a strong message to hostile neighbours, saying India is prepared to counter any threat and protect its sovereignty at any cost.

    Inaugurating the three-day event, attended by over 600 firms from many countries, Singh said India faces threats and challenges emanating from multiple fronts and has been a victim of state sponsored terrorism.

    “Like many of our friendly countries, India also faces threats and challenges emanating from multiple fronts. India is a victim of state sponsored and state inflicted terrorism which is now a global threat. We have long witnessed unfortunate attempts to change the status quo along our unresolved borders. We are vigilant and prepared to counter and defeat any misadventure to defend our people and territorial integrity at all costs,” he said.

    Singh said the government’s vision is to make India one of the biggest countries in the defence sector from design to production. We have set a target of 1.75 lakh crore including export of Rs 35,000 crore in aerospace and defence and services by 2024.

    Aero India has laid a strong foundation for cooperation among countries of the Indian Ocean Region countries for peace and stability in the region.

    The three-day Aero India 2021 took off with an impressive inaugural aerobatic fly-past and display on Wednesday after Defence Minister Singh inaugurated the event.

    After providing a trailer of the joint performance of India’s two most popular aerobatic teams – Suryakiran and Sarang — at the full dress rehearsal on Tuesday, the two teams put out an even better show at the inaugural with both teams doing several tangoes during their aerobatics jointly.

    Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and Sukhoi MKI of the Indian Air Force displayed a powerful aerobatic performance individually, while Rafale opened the display, being the IAF’s latest acquisition.

    The inaugural event also featured India’s indigenous products – LCA trainer (LIFT Trainer), HTT-40, Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), Advanced Hawk Mk 132 and Civil Do-228 – all flying together in a special formation called ‘Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight’ to rousing applause from spectators, which included several defence chiefs from various countries.