Aero India 2023: Rajnath Singh To Host Defence Ministers’ Conclave

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the 'Defence Ministers' Conclave' on the sidelines of the 14th edition of Aero India in Bengaluru on 14 February. The biennial airshow would take place from 13 o 17 February at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka. According to an official release, the conclave will include Defense Ministers from friendly countries who will also be attending Aero India.

The conclave would address issues such as deepening cooperation for capacity building (via investments, R&D, joint venture, co-development, co-production, and provisioning of defence equipment), training, space, AI, and maritime security in order to grow together under the broad theme 'Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence' (SPEED), according to the statement.

The conclave provides an opportunity for Defence Ministers from all friendly countries and India to collaborate in order to carry forward Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'Make in India, Make for the World' for a secure and prosperous future for future generations, it added.

According to officials, Aero India has established itself as one of the world's premier aerospace exhibitions, with 13 successful editions held in Bengaluru since 1996. This time, 731 exhibitors have registered for Aero India, with 633 Indians and 98 foreigners.

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a campaign for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliance India), the release stated that it aims to increase indigenous defence manufacturing and production capability to develop a self-sufficient defence ecosystem; involving like-minded nations in developing a reliable supply chain free of exploitation and disruptions by certain players.

While domestic requirements are sufficient to sustain the indigenous industry, India would like to collaborate with friendly countries to take defence production to the next level and share the benefits to ensure shared prosperity, according to the statement.

The aerospace industry is also ramping up significantly to meet the demand for aircraft (fixed and rotary wings), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and communication systems. According to officials, the opportunities in aerospace for Indian industries will improve with favourable defence policies with other countries by creating an ecosystem in India.

Satellite-enabled technologies such as information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), chip manufacturing, and communication technology, they claim, have enormous potential for collaboration.