Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the DefExpo on Wednesday in Gandhinagar.
Gujarat’s Gandhinagar is hosting DefExpo 2022, India’s “largest ever” defence exhibition, with the goal of boosting the defence industry.
The event, with the theme “Path to Pride,” is currently in its 12th year.
The indigenous trainer aircraft HTT-40, created by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was unveiled at the India Pavilion by the Prime Minister.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the aircraft has cutting-edge modern equipment and was created with pilot-friendly characteristics.
In conjunction with the programme, the prime minister also unveiled Mission DefSpace, an initiative to use business and entrepreneurs to build cutting-edge space solutions for the Defense Forces. PM Modi also laid the cornerstone for 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa at the official opening ceremony.
The inaugural edition of DefExpo this year is only for Indian businesses. Participants from India include Indian enterprises, Indian subsidiaries of foreign OEMs, a division of a corporation established in India, and an exhibitor that has a joint venture with an Indian company.
The seven new defence businesses which were formed from the former Ordnance Factory Board are also celebrating their first anniversary at DefExpo 2022.
These businesses will all be taking part in DefExpo for the first time. Nearly twice as many MoUs, agreements for the transfer of technology and product launches as in the last iteration are anticipated during the Bandhan ceremony on October 20.
The Department of Defence Production’s flagship pavilion, the India Pavilion, will highlight India’s vision for 2047 while showcasing the development of domestic defence products, start-ups, and cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence in defence.
Additionally, exclusive Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Pavilion will be present to highlight the expertise of the nation’s start-up businesses engaged in R&D and innovation in cutting-edge technology.
States and Union Territories (UTs) have been asked to erect pavilions at the event for the first time. The Defense Minister has made it clear that with this new effort, States and UTs will have the chance to contribute to nation-building by luring investment and enhancing their capacity for domestic aerospace and defence manufacture.