After wreaking havoc inside the enemy territory during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to enhance its firepower further by adding lethal weapons and superior fighter jets.
With PM Modi stressing on the need of Make in India for defence needs, our defence forces are well on track to stock up.
Speaking during an event, Defence Secretary RK Singh expressed hope that the first two of the 10 will hopefully be delivered by September-end. HAL Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil had recently said Indian Air Force will get at least half-a-dozen Tejas Light Combat Aircraft by March 2026.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is manufacturing the cutting-edge fighter jets.
What he said?
“It is a strategic imperative now that we need to be self-reliant in order to maintain our strategic autonomy. The only way we can do that is by ensuring that the bulk of our defense needs are met within the country. Since Prime Minister Modi’s government came to power in 2014, the focus on self-reliance has been relentless,” he said.
And added, “”Our air defense systems, including the legacy systems, worked very well-the layered systems work. In drones, I would say there is a lot of improvement required. Our civilian drone manufacturing ecosystem has grown and expanded quite a bit. To achieve military-grade drones, we need to put in a lot of effort, and our drone manufacturers are aware of it.”