Aero-engine development priority area of government: Rajnath Singh
aero-engine development
is a "priority area" of the government in view of the IAF's needs and the effort is to make this engine indigenously on a "co-development and co-production" model with full intellectual property rights. Addressing an event at the Air Force auditorium in Subroto Park here, he said "shifting geo-strategic equations" have a direct interest in India's
national security
as was never before.
What kind of challenges these geo-strategic uncertainties pose for national security and how "we are prepared to handle them" is of paramount importance for India, Singh said.
His remarks came on the occasion of a lecture hosted by the Air Force Association in memory of the Marshal of the
Indian Air Force
Arjan Singh, whose birth anniversary was on April 15.
"He was a visionary military leader who, even today, inspires the youth. If the IAF is one of the world's strongest air forces today, it is because of the vision and ethos of military leaders like Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh," Singh said.
"There are very few people who are part of history and also create history. Arjan Singh was one of them. We all are aware of his role in the 1965 war against Pakistan. It was an example of his visionary leadership that the Indian Air Force started a counter-attack within just an hour," the minister said.
Live Events
In the address, he also spoke of "atmanirbharta" (self-sufficiency) in the defence sector and in the IAF.
Singh termed aero-engine development a "priority area" for the government, in view of the needs of the IAF. "The effort is to make this engine in India only on the model of co-development and co-production with full intellectual property rights," he said.
The defence minister said the 21st century is seen as the century of Asia.
"The cross-Atlantic power equations of the 20th century have now shifted towards Asia and have come closer to us. Today, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the most important region in the world strategically. The change that we have witnessed has a direct relation with our national security," Singh said.
If one looks at the conflicts in different parts of the world, one will find one common thread; driven by technology, warfare methods are changing much faster with "more unpredictability and lethality" seen in combat, he added.
Singh described the journey of IAF as an aspiring, inspirational, and transformational epic that is not just about touching the sky, but also turning the dreams of national security into reality.
He said despite challenges, the IAF has grown stronger post-independence and is now "contributing significantly to national security as a strong pillar".
Singh reiterated the commitment towards establishing IAF as a "dominant power" in the region, saying the journey towards 'aatmanirbharta' is a shared responsibility. "Commitment, collaboration and unified vision is the need of the hour, he asserted.
The defence minister said India's national security will further strengthen if the IAF is well-equipped and highly technology-oriented.
Singh stressed that national security cannot be ensured through import dependency, and the government is working relentlessly towards achieving defence sovereignty.
He said emphasis is being laid on manufacturing defence equipment within the country and the efforts of the Ministry of Defence are yielding "positive results".
Singh, in his address, termed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Light Utility Helicopter Prachand, Akash and BrahMos Air Defence weapons as "shining examples" of the capability of Indian designers, engineers and scientists.
He also said today's situation shows that the old hardware-based system of warfare is now moving towards a software-based system. In the coming times, warfare will also depend more on software-based systems, Singh added.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, other senior military officials and serving and retired IAF personnel, among others, were also present on the occasion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
State education department to launch whatsapp chatbot for easy access to information
Nagpur: The state school education department is set to launch a WhatsApp chatbot to help teachers, students, and parents access information related to various departmental services. In its first phase, the chatbot will function as an interactive FAQ tool, allowing users to quickly obtain details without navigating through lengthy portals. According to officials, the chatbot will provide information such as exam schedules for teachers and students, admission procedures, and a checklist of documents required for different applications. State education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh said the service is being introduced to reduce the need for physical visits to government offices and institutions under the department. "The service's primary aim is aligned with the government's vision to minimize the number of trips a person has to make to offices and institutions connected with the education department. For now, this WhatsApp chatbot will provide a curated version of the FAQs available on our portals. It's not always possible to read everything or search for a specific query. This chatbot will provide the required information in a simple and proper manner," Singh said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo The initiative is part of the government's broader push to promote e-governance across state departments. Sources in the education department said that while the chatbot will initially offer only information services, discussions are underway to expand its scope once backend technological capabilities are strengthened. In the future, students may be able to apply for admissions through WhatsApp, receive mark sheets, or access other crucial documents without visiting offices physically. While there is no timeline set for the proposed futuristic version of the chatbox, many feel that with the advent of AI and tech tools becoming more democratized, it might not be a long before the vision is implemented. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cyber experts warn of China, Pakistan intrusions, call for robust measures
1 2 Lucknow: Cyber experts cautioned against increasing intrusions from China and Pakistan and urged Indian authorities to rapidly strengthen digital security infrastructure on the concluding day of the Uttar Pradesh Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS) seminar on Wednesday. The final day featured detailed deliberations on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, genome mapping, genealogical databases, forensic justice, ancestry research, forensic applications, and forensic entrepreneurship. Principal secretary (Maharashtra) Brajesh Singh spoke about how even minor cyber incidents can trigger massive disruptions, citing the Hezbollah pager attack and the malware strike that shut down India's largest port for three months. He explained that cybercrime cannot be countered by traditional policing and requires international cooperation. Breaking LockBit, for example, took the combined effort of 11 countries, he noted. Singh called for real-time crisis mapping, chain-of-custody protocols for digital evidence, tracking illicit money flows through blockchain and wallets, seizing criminal infrastructure, and swift victim assistance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee Pain Keeping You Up at Night? This Trick Could Help Instantly Read More Undo He also praised the RBI's cyber framework and said that cybersecurity was 'like agriculture, it cannot be imported, it must be cultivated within the country.' Cyber expert Robbie Abraham, who joined the seminar virtually from Australia, traced the evolution of cyberattacks, from worms like I Love You, which caused losses of USD 8.7 billion, and Conficker, which caused USD 9 billion in losses across 190 countries, to modern ransomware and phishing-based intrusions targeting browsing data, crypto wallets, and confidential information. Hackers, he said, are increasingly relying on logging and credential theft, selling stolen data on the dark web. His focus was on preventive measures such as regular security training, use of antivirus, and heightened precautions with emails and messages. Another cyber expert, Vivek Sood, discussed advanced security management in the global supply chain. Dr. Madhusudan Reddy Nandineni from the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics in Hyderabad highlighted the importance of next-generation sequencing, rapid DNA analysis, and portable forensic devices. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Rajnath Singh, CDS to attend tri-services seminar at Army War College, Mhow; Operation Sindoor on the table
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Military officers will share "hard-earned lessons" from India's operational frontlines, the Operation Sindoor experience, and engage in discussions on August 26-27 on enhancing jointness in the armed forces as part of a pioneering tri-services seminar themed on the impact of technology on Minister Rajnath Singh Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Triparthi are scheduled to attend 'Ransamwad 2025' to be held at Army War College, Mhow, in Madhya Pradesh, officials said on joint doctrines on multi-domain operations, special forces operations, and airborne and heliborne operations will also be released during the event, a senior official said, adding that the one on multi-domain operations will be released by Singh while the remaining two by the will also release the Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR).In a video message for the event shared on Wednesday on the X handle of HQ IDS, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt General Pushpendra Pal Singh, said serving officers will share operational insights into modern warfighting at 'Ransamwad'."Today, India's security environment is complex. We operate across two active borders in high-altitude, urban, jungle and desert terrains, while simultaneously responding to cyber, information and grey zone threats. From the sustained counter-insurgency operations in the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir to Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has evolved into a multi-domain, all-terrain force," he said India's defence preparedness rests on jointness."The Indian Army is implementing transformative reforms, agile integrated battle groups, digitised command and control theaterisations to ensure that we are suitably prepared for protracted, sharp and high-tempo conflicts of the future," he Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff on Wednesday held a curtain-raiser briefing at the Manekshaw Centre at Delhi Cantonment on the upcoming event to be hosted by HQ ARTRAC (Army Training Command) under the aegis of HQ IDS."India needs to lead the strategic debate on future war -- we were a 'Vishwa Guru' once and we need to reclaim that space, and to be more adept at fighting future warfare," a senior official Gen Vipul Shinghal, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training), shared the broader details of the two-day seminar, which is themed Impact of Technology on Warfare, and looks at the convergence of ideas on strategy, innovation and national two sub-themes of the seminar are Emerging Technologies and Impact on Future Warfare, and Reforms in Institutionalised Training to Catalyse Technological Enablement, he Minister Singh will attend the event on August 27, Lt Gen Shinghal key seminar on war, warfare and warfighting is taking place three-and-a-half months after India's Operation if the event was planned before or after the military action in May, a senior official said planning for Ransamwad 2025 predates Operation added that the Operation Sindoor experience will figure in the a video message for the event shared a day earlier on the X handle of HQ IDS, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said "in an era where speed of decision is itself a weapon, we must think, train and fight as one force"."Ransamwad is not just a seminar, it is a strategic dialogue where our officers share hard-earned lessons from India's operational frontlines. From contested borders to cyber battlegrounds , India's security environment is multi-dimensional and dynamic. This makes jointness no longer optional; it is mission-critical. Successful Operation Sindoor is a testimony to this," he said."Our armed forces are undergoing rapid integration, joint structures are being shaped, tri-service modes are operational, and defence, cyber and space agencies are active. AI, autonomous and quantum systems are now part of military planning. Ransamvad anchors these changes in operational reality," the CISC said in his CISC, in his message, welcomed the hosting of the seminar steered by HQ ARTRAC, and said the Air Force and Navy will carry the torch forward in the coming years."The Integrated Defence Staff sees this not just as a seminar, but as a doctrinal crucible for India's future force. Ransamvad is where India's integrated future takes shape," he Gen Devendra Sharma, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC, in his video message hosted on the X handle of HQ IDS, said the Army, Navy and IAF officers will share their thoughts on recent conflicts, emerging technologies, niche and disruptive warfighting technologies, the Operation Sindoor experience, integration of space and warfighting, and training for Operation Sindoor, India took a decisive military action in May on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack."Let Ransamvad be the forum, where we not only discuss warfighting but also define its very course," he HQ IDS said the forum will allow delegates to explore cutting-edge innovations, integrated combat strategies and modernised training frameworks that will equip the Indian armed forces for "future operational challenges", supporting the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat
