New Airbase At Deesa Will Be Crucial For Security: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa at the DefExpo during the inaugural ceremony in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

He said, Deesa airfield will play a major role. Deesa is only 130km away from the International Border. If our forces, especially our airforces, remain in Deesa, then we will be able to give a better response to any threat coming from the Western side.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, where he would also launch development projects worth Rs 15,670 crores in the districts of Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Narmada and Tapi.

PM also unveiled the HTT-40, an indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the expo's India Pavilion. The aircraft has cutting-edge modern equipment and has been developed with pilot-friendly features.

During the event, he announced 'Mission Defence Space,' which aims to develop creative solutions for space-based defence forces through industry and entrepreneurs.

This year, the Expo witnessed the largest-ever participation which hosted a defence exhibition entirely for Indian enterprises, including domestic subsidiaries of foreign firms, divisions of companies established in India and exhibitors with joint ventures with Indian companies for the first time.

On Thursday, the prime minister will inaugurate 'Mission LiFE' in Kevadia and then attend the 10th 'Heads of Missions' conference. He will also build the groundwork for other Vyara development initiatives.

DefExpo also includes the second India-Africa Defence Dialogue, with the theme 'India-Africa: Adopting a Strategy for Synergising Defence and Security Cooperation,' as well as the second Indian Ocean Region Plus (IOR+) Conclave. The event will also feature the first-ever Investors' Meet for defence, with over 100 businesses showcasing their inventions and 451 agreements and launches expected to be signed.