From jet engines to 5th generation stealth aircraft — Rajnath lays down vision of self-reliant India in Bengaluru

Manufacturing jet engines in India for indigenously-built aircraft has emerged as one of the primary goals envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for building a developed India in the next 25 years.

The Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that it is working on the details of indigenous manufacturing of aero-engines to provide a new fillip to the aerospace sector and achieve complete self-reliance.

“After completing 75 years of independence, India is entering ‘Amrit Kaal’ and it is time to ensure that Indian aircraft fly with indigenously-made engines,” stated Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while addressing a seminar on the sidelines of the ongoing Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru.

Titled ‘Indigenous Development of Futuristic Aerospace Technologies Including Way Forward for Development of Indigenous Aero Engines’, the event was organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Singh also stressed the need to focus on indigenous design and development of essential weapon systems using niche technologies like Artificial Intelligence, drones, stealth, hypersonic and quantum computing.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, during the visit of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to Washington earlier this month, the United States has committed to an expeditious review of the license application submitted by General Electric to produce jet engines in India for the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Last July, French aviation and defence equipment manufacturer Safran and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) also signed an agreement to create a new joint venture intended to develop helicopter engines under the Modi government’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

On Tuesday, the Defence Minister termed the LCA a “game changer” for the aerospace industry.

“A highly-capable aerial platform, LCA Tejas has a commendable record in flight safety which speaks volumes about its quality. Based on its success, the government has now approved LCA-Mk II for the Indian Air Force, while the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter is under consideration for the Indian Navy.”

“We have also started moving forward in the path of design and manufacturing of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft in the form of 5th generation stealth aircraft. Whether it is water, land or sky, DRDO has always been at the forefront in strengthening the security infrastructure,” he said.

Later, while hosting the Defence and Deputy Defence Ministers of 27 countries at the Defence Ministers’ Conclave, Singh spotlighted the need for greater cooperation in an increasingly complex global security scenario and reiterated the government’s endeavour to transcend the hierarchical relationship of buyer and seller to a co­development and co-production model.

“We want to build with you, we want to launch with you, we want to create with you and we want to develop with you. We wish to create symbiotic relationships, where we can learn from each other, grow together and create a win-win situation for all,” he said.

The conclave was titled ‘Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence’ (SPEED) which Singh said characterises the present era wherein geopolitical and security realities are shifting at hitherto unwitnessed speed.

Reaffirming India’s stand for a rules-based international order, in which “the primordial instinct of the might being right is replaced by the civilisational concept of fairness, cooperation, respect and equality amongst all sovereign nations”, the Defence Minister asserted that untethered to any faction or alliance of one group of nations against another, India has worked ceaselessly for the upliftment of all nations, especially developing ones.

“India has always been open to new ideas from across the world, Commingling and contest of various thoughts has made us a global ideation centre. Our ancient ethos guides us to work not only towards cooperation for mutual benefit but goes a welcome step further from a mere transactional approach to an edifying recognition of all humanity as one family,” said Singh.

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