MAKE IN INDIA

As world economies restart their engines in a bid to regain lost ground due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India too shows signs of economic buoyancy and promise. India’s Make in India initiative holds a key to the global economic revival, something that should interest Australian government ministries, corporate sector, entrepreneurs, institutions seeking R&D collaborations and Australia Inc in general, among others. India assumes greater importance as several major world economies including American, Japanese, German, British and South Korean look to move out and diversify their businesses from China. India has jumped to 63rd rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Development 2020 report, and has also been ranked as the 9th largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment destinations in 2019 by the World Investment Report 2020 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Manufacturing cutting-edge products need of the hour: Rajnath Singh at Aero India 2023

government's full support towards removing obstacles and facilitating businesses.

Singh reiterated the Centre's resolve of nurturing a vibrant and world-class defence manufacturing industry, terming it as the key driver of Indian economy.

Bengaluru, Feb 13 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday urged Indian and global industry leaders to support the governments push for design, development and manufacture of cutting-edge products using critical technologies in the country to attain complete Aatmanirbharta in the field of defence.

"The overall objective is to achieve shared global peace and prosperity," he said while addressing a gathering of over 70 CEOs from local and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) during a Round Table organised as part of the Aero India 2023 here on Monday.

Singh said, "India does not want to remain just an assembly workshop and is looking to engage with friendly countries in defence and security based on sharing expertise and capabilities under the Make in India, Make for the World' vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." He assured the industry leaders that the government is open to new ideas and is committed to fully harness the energy, entrepreneurial spirit and capability of private sector partners in the area of defence production. He extended the

He enumerated a number of far-reaching reforms undertaken by Ministry of Defence to create a business-friendly climate in the country. These include setting up of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; simplification of industrial licensing process; hike in cap on FDI in defence; opening of government trial and testing facilities for the private sector; increase in capital outlay for defence in Budget 2023-24 and launch of a Technology Development Fund and Innovations for Defence Excellence.

He said these reforms will enable Indian defence products to compete with established global defence and aerospace companies.

The Defence Minister stressed that indigenisation is the mantra for India today, unlike in the past when import was the default option. He also appreciated the growing enthusiasm and greater participation of private players in defence production and expressed confidence that the CEOs' Round Table will sow the seeds of successful new ventures and partnerships, boost investment, expand indigenous manufacturing and bolster the

US and France slug it out at Aero India eyeing orders for INS Vikrant

aerospace and defence ecosystem in India.

The Round Table organised on the sidelines of Aero India 2023 was structured around the theme Sky is not the limit: Opportunities beyond boundaries'. The participating companies included Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics, Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, General Authority of Military Industries, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, BEML Limited, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge, Dynamatic Technologies and BrahMos Aerospace.

The platform aims to forge partnerships between domestic and global industries in the aerospace and defence sectors to address the present and future global needs and discuss the importance of supply chain strategy and operations as the world deals with the aftermath of the pandemic and global disruptions.

More than 75 companies, including 28 foreign OEMs from 15 countries, and DPSUs participated in the discussion.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane also attended the Round Table.

Saab to showcase ‘Gripen E’ at Aero India 2023, to set up rifle manufacturing unit in India

New Delhi, Feb 13: The worlds leading defence companies have lined up at the 2023 edition of the Aero India air show to showcase their cutting-edge technologies in a bid to further develop their industrial footprint in India. Over 100 foreign companies, including Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, Airbus, Boeing, SAAB, Safran and Rolls Royce, from more than 80 countries are amongst the major exhibitors at Asia's largest aero show which kicked off in Bengaluru today.

Dassault Aviation is presenting at Aero India 2023 a model of Rafale C in the colours of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and a model of Rafale Marine which is a candidate for the renewal of the fleet of onboard fighters of the Indian Navy. The French aerospace company is highlighting its long association with India in the military field as IAF, having been equipped with Dassault aircraft since 1953, is its oldest export customer.

The acquisition contract for 36 Rafale signed in 2016 and the modernization of the Mirage 2000 I/TI has extended the historic partnership.

In the field of business aviation, the Falcon fleet in service in India has around 20 aircraft.

having a range of 6,450 nm (12,000 km), which means it is capable of non-stop flights between Beijing and New York, Singapore and London, or Sao Paulo and Moscow.

Dassault believes that the trijet is particularly wellsuited to the needs of Indian companies and local operating conditions considering the high temperatures and altitudes.

"Dassault Aviation's participation in the Aero India show is further testimony to the partnership that has united us with India for 70 years. Providing the best materials to the Indian Forces and companies has always been our ambition and our pride," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

US aerospace giant Boeing, which locked in an intense competition with Dassault to deck its fighter jets on INS Vikrant, is also focusing its presence at Aero India 2023 on investments in growing local services and capabilities, workforce development and partnerships in support India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Boeing's exhibit at USA Pavilion is built around the theme of 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities' highlighting local partnerships and investments in India.

Bengaluru, Feb 11 (IANS) Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab on Saturday announced it will demonstrate the cutting edge technologies that make its 'Gripen E' the world's most modern multirole fighter aircraft at the Aero India 2023 show.

Along with the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, AT4 shoulderfired recoilless anti-tank weapon and IDAS self-protection suite for airborne platforms - which are already in service with the Indian armed forces, Saab, in a statement, said it will present a wide portfolio of products and systems from the air, land, and sea domains.

In addition, a full scale replica of Gripen E and a Gripen E cockpit simulator will bring alive the game-changing capabilities of the aircraft, it said.

Saab will exhibit a range of products and solutions for a fastchanging defence and security environment. In addition, Saab will engage with Indian industry to further its plans for building a strong defence industrial base in India, making products for India and the rest of the world.

"Saab will demonstrate how our advanced technology and innovative thinking can deliver the best solutions for strong national defence and an industrial future based on the premise of Make in India.

Following the Rafale contract, Dassault Aviation and its partners are contributing to the 'Make in India' policy through a vast supply, training and industrial subcontracting network involving dozens of companies, in accordance with their offset obligations.

The Dassault Aviation group is also showcasing at the fiveday event a front section of Falcon 2000 produced by the Franco-Indian factory located in Nagpur under the terms of the agreements resulting from the Rafale contract.

Also on show is ultra-long range advanced business jet Falcon 8X

The exhibit also features a range of advanced products including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, P-8I, CH-47 Chinook, 737, 787 Dreamliner and 777X. Visitors will be able to experience the AH-64 Apache simulator and learn more the combat helicopter's capabilities and a wide range of missions. The joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) recently delivered the first fuselage for six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Indian Army from its stateof-the-art facility in Hyderabad. TBAL has produced and supplied Boeing's Apache final assembly plant in Mesa, Arizona with over 190 fuselages.

India presently operates 11 C-17s, 22 AH-64 Apaches (with six more on order), 15 CH-47 Chinooks, 12 P-8Is, three VVIP aircraft, and two Head of State aircraft. In addition, more than 150 Boeing airplanes, including the NextGeneration 737, 737 MAX, 757, 777, and 787 Dreamliner, are operated by India's leading commercial airlines.