NEW DELHI, 8 February 2005 — Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee outlined key options of India’s defense strategy in his presidential address at the inaugural ceremony of the Aero India 2005 international seminar yesterday in Bangalore. The three-day seminar is being held ahead of the five-day Aero India 2005, which is set to take off on aflying note from tomorrow.
Drawing attention to the need of joint participation in the defense sector, Mukherjee said: “We would like to encourage joint participation in our defense systems development, testing and manufacturing efforts, as long as the economics of such joint ventures are mutually beneficial.”
Mukherjee referred to the development of BrahMos supersonic missile as an example of what can be “efficiently achieved by joint minds and efforts.”
Asserting the government’s commitment to “promoting overall growth in agriculture, defense, communication and infrastructure development and other wide-ranging spectrum of activities” Mukherjee said: “Aviation and aerospace, endeavors, lead to better infrastructure, regional development, job opportunities for the educated youth of the country and therefore good return on investment.”
Describing the success achieved by India in launch vehicle and satellite technology as a “tribute” to “our confidence in designing and building sophisticated aerospace systems,” Mukherjee referred to the government investing around 100 billion rupees in three major defense projects. These are the Light Combat Aircraft, Kaveri Gas Turbine engine and the Airborne Early Warning System.
The three-day seminar to discuss aerospace technology development and strategies across the world is being attended by over 900 delegates from France, Britain, Israel, Germany, Canada and other nations.
