Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday termed the Multinational Exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ as an effort to strengthen cooperation, coordination and trust with partner countries. Addressing the gathering at the Distinguished Visitors’ Day event in the second phase of the multinational exercise in Jodhpur, Defence Minister said that through Tarang Shakti, India has further strengthened its defence ties with all partner countries and has instilled confidence among them that whenever the need arises, we all will stand together.
Reiterating India’s vision of mutual coexistence and cooperation, he said that India believes in all nations marching together and holding each other’s hands.
“When an exercise of such complexity and large magnitude takes place, soldiers with different work cultures, air combat experiences, and warfighting principles learn a lot from each other,” the Minister added.
He added, “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.”
He elaborated further that the Indian Air Force has been equipped with the best modern aircrafts from around the world.
“At the time of independence, the Indian Air Force 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 most modern aircrafts from around the world and next generation equipment, the Indian Air Force has transformed itself,” he said
Referring to the recent collaboration of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with the French company Safran Helicopter Engines, the Minister said that the country has transformed itself from being only an importer of arms and equipment to a nation which today exports arms and equipment to about 90 countries. He also added, “Domestic defence sector has taken strong steps towards indigenisation in the manufacturing of weapons, platforms, aircraft, etc. Today we have become self-reliant to a greater extent in the manufacturing of Light Combat Aircraft, Sensors, Radars and in executing electronic warfare.”
Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also graced the Distinguished Visitors’ Day event at the Tarang Shakti exercise. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, and senior military leaders from friendly foreign nations also attended the event.
The event showcased a display by the Agniveervayu Women Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT) and demonstrations from the LCA Tejas, LCH Prachand, Sarang & SKAT teams.
Later in the day, the Defence Minister inaugurated the prestigious International Defence and Aerospace Expo (IDAX-24), which showcased India’s commitment to indigenous defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from various startups, MSMEs, and major aeronautical companies, with sixty-eight industry players presenting cutting-edge defence technologies. With participation from seven nations and twenty-one observer countries in phase two of the exercise, IDAX-24 underscored international collaboration, fostering dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of expertise, further strengthening India’s global standing in defence and aerospace.
