Bengaluru, Feb.12: The credit for the Aerospace development must go to Karnataka, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Speaking at Aero India 2023 Curtain Raiser program in which Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated, he said the State had completed the first phase of the Aerospace Policy and Defence park, and the second phase is being started. Bengaluru has become the center for Aerospace and is the ideal place to hold the airshow. Here Indian aerospace technology could be displayed. Now, Bengaluru has become the center for commercial and defense products. “We have a target of building an aircraft in Bengaluru and steps have been taken in this regard globally. We are taking a suitable place and a suitable decision in the interest of the nation”.
Matter of pride The CM said hosting the Aero India show is a matter of pride and it has become a practice for Karnataka and Bengaluru to host it. The credit for the development of the aerospace ecosystem will go to their seniors. Every year, this event had been held successfully both in the defense and aerospace industries and displays its strength. Though it was canceled over two years it had been held on a grand scale in the last two years. This has increased their self-confidence. This is the biggest airshow and a maximum number of foreign defense ministers, Airforce CEOs will be attending, an exhibition is organized on a 35000 sq ft area with 600 to 809 shows. As many as 98 foreign dignitaries are participating. The number of agreements will be more.
Airforce reinforcement
Bommai said the upgradation of technology, capacity, and human resources of the airforce is a continuous process. Under the leadership of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India is becoming ‘Armanirbhar’ in defense production as well as in technology degradation. Earlier, the country was importing nearly 75 percent of the defense equipment and now they are exporting. Karnataka has been playing an important role regarding Aerospace as the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was established in Karnataka in 1940 and NAL, BHEL, and DRDO have hiked the R&D capacity. The ISRO was established in Bengaluru in 1960 and in each decade, aerospace has developed along with place and capacity. In 1960, the Arya Bhata satellite was put into orbit from Bengaluru and 67 percent of aerospace equipment is manufactured in the state.
Airshow helps in the extension of the aerospace and defense industry
He said the people will remember the Aero India Show-2023 and will carry the sweet memories from here. The event will be a grand success and it will be helpful in the extension of the aerospace and defense industry. Nealy half of the world is participating in this grand show and this has made the whole globe look at them. A big thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh for allowing the State to host this show for the 14th time.
Union Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhat, Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma, Giridhar, Additional Chief Secretary Ramana Reddy, Natarajan, and Anurag Bajpayee were present.
