 "Aero India 2021 in pictures: Defence technologies, jets on display")
The India's premier aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India 2021 takes off on Wednesday amidst the Covid-19 pandemic with buzz around "AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan" and "Make in India" push.
India is vigilant in the face of attempts to change status quo at its border and prepared to defeat any misadventures to defend territorial integrity, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday, amid continued military standoff with China. China and India are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 last. "India is vigilant and prepared to counter and defeat any misadventures to defend our people and territorial integrity at all costs", the Minister said.
Indian Navy is going to induct the missile as part of the Next Generation Maritime Marine Coastal Defence battery role.
Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jet equipped with an air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is on display at Aero India show in Bengaluru. One dedicated squadron of the Air Force is equipped with these missiles which can strike targets at over 400-km.
Defence Research and Development Organisation has showcased India’s under-development fifth-generation fighter aircraft Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft at Aero India. As per DRDO, the aircraft would come with stealth features and all capabilities of a multirole fighter plane.
The aircraft flew from an American airbase in South Dakota, United States for over 26 hours to reach the city.
Singh also said that India plans to spend USD 130 billion on Defence modernisation in the next seven to eight years with focus on domestic manufacturing of bigger and complex platforms.
In Bengaluru for Aero India 2021, which his ministry has billed as “Asia’s most prestigious air show”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday inaugurated a second production line at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) that will boost its capacity to build the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).
Singh said he has been informed that about 540 exhibitors including 80 foreign companies, Defence Ministers, Delegates, Service chiefs and officials from more than 55 nations are participating in the event.