INDIA
ON THE AERONAUTICAL SCENE
George
Fernandes *
India is galloping
through the Technology Age. Today India is acknowledged as a global
leader in information technology. In the aeronautics sector it
has carved out a niche for itself. The Advanced Light Helicopter
(ALH) designed and produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
is acknowledged as a state-of-the-art product. The supersonic
Light Combat Aircraft which is doing its final tests to reach
the threshold of serial production has attracted global attention.
In a joint venture with Russia, known as Brahmos, we have produced,
tested and are in the process of inducting the supersonic cruise
missile in its all three variants to serve the Army, Navy and
the Air Force.
Having opened
defence production to the private sector, with foreign direct
investment up to 26 per cent, we are looking forward to creating
a defence industrial base capable of producing world class equipment
at highly competitive prices in cooperative partnership with industry
in the private sector. The research and development work done
in some of our defence laboratories is being made available to
this sector to begin production. In this context, India is keen
to welcome international collaborations in conformity with our
national goals.
India’s scientific,
technological and industrial capabilities have been on display
in all spheres of human endeavour. We have achieved these capabilities
through sustained efforts in which the government and industry
have worked in tandem.
India has grown
in technology and industry base from the days when we were only
buying from other countries. Our basic thrust has been for indigenous
development, design and manufacture. In fact, over the years we
have been engaged in manufacturing our own basic trainer aircraft,
jet trainers, fighters and helicopters. We have also undertaken
licensed manufacture of fighter and passenger aircraft. During
the past more than 50 years of independent India, the aviation
industry has grown into one of the largest aeronautical complexes
in South Asia.
The Indian industry
is not concentrating only on military aircraft but also on dedicated
facilities for civil aircraft manufacture and maintenance. In
view of the stupendous growth of civil aviation in the country
and in Asia, the Indian aeronautical industry is pro-actively
diversifying in the area of civil aviation aircraft. Co-production
of 50 and 100 seater aircraft is one such project.
Indian infrastructure
is not only technologically of the world standard but also one
of the most economical. Having done this we could even plan out
a strategy of joint marketing. With a high degree of skill and
relatively lower manpower costs, India provides an excellent opportunity
for all buyers and sellers.
Technology and
its sharing is what may well be the future road map to development.
*
Extracted from the Defence Minister’s speech inaugurating Aero
India 2003 in Bangalore on February 5, 2003
