Inaugurating the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) multilateral aerial exercise ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’ on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the historic significance of the event commending the IAF’s legacy of strength and bravery.
The exercise, one of the largest multinational air drills ever held in the country, is being organised in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.
Speaking at the event, Singh lauded the IAF for its consistent display of courage and skill, stating, “The Indian Air Force has been known for its strength and valour since its inception. Whenever the country needed it, the Air Force faced the situation bravely and displayed its strength, increasing the pride of the nation.”
He added that large-scale exercises like ‘Tarang Shakti’ provide opportunities for participating nations to learn from one another, further enhancing their capabilities.
The defence minister also highlighted the technological advancements within the IAF and stressed adopting a collaborative learning approach amid rapidly evolving technology.
“Indian Air Force, or any air force in the world, is a technology-intensive force; and you all are well aware of the speed at which technology is changing today. In such a rapidly changing scenario, moving forward with a collaborative learning approach is the need of the hour; and through ‘Tarang Shakti,’ you are moving forward in this direction with strong wings,” he said.
Singh also reflected upon the progress the IAF and India’s defence sector have made since independence. “It has been more than 75 years since our country India gained independence. I was told that at that time, i.e. after partition, our Air Force had only 6 squadrons of two types of aircraft. Similarly, the rest of the war equipment was also very old and worn out and in limited quantities. But today, with the best and most modern aircraft from around the world and next generation equipment, the Indian Air Force has transformed itself,” he said.
He also underscored the country’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing citing the development of indigenous platforms and equipment. “Our Air Force and our defence sector are moving forward rapidly with the new vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. We have taken strong steps towards indigenization in the production of weapons, platforms, and aircraft.”
He noted the collaboration between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and France’s Safran Helicopter Engines as an example of the strides being made, stating, “Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and France’s Safran Helicopter Engines are working on the design and development of high-power engines under a joint venture named ‘SUKH’.”
With the participation from several countries, Singh also encouraged foreign dignitaries present at the event to take note of India’s growing aerospace and defence capabilities during their visit.