New Delhi:Defence Minister Rajnath Singh patted Indian Air Force on Thursday for ensuring a timely and befitting response to the sudden developments in eastern Ladakh. China had made attempts of transgression at Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh last year and the Air Force had rushed in to provide logistic support to the Indian Army deployed at forwarding locations.
He appreciated the critical focus of IAF towards reorienting for the future.
Speaking about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Defence Minister appreciated the role played by the Air Force in assisting other government agencies in their task.
Referring to changing international geopolitics, he observed that the perceptible shift of focus from trans-Atlantic to trans-Pacific has become more obvious in the recent past.
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"Changing dimensions of war would now include advanced technologies, asymmetric capabilities and info-dominance, and it was very important that the IAF's preparations for the future must include these aspects," Singh said.
Reiterating the Prime Minister's vision of 'Self Reliance', Singh stressed the need to promote Atmanirbharta in Defence Infrastructure.
He added that the IAF's order for LCA would result in a substantial boost to the domestic defence industry and will be a game-changer from the indigenisation perspective.
He urged the Commanders to continue their efforts for achieving even greater results in the field of indigenous defence production and aircraft maintenance.
He added that national security and economic development are complementary aspects of national policy. The IAF's support for the indigenous industry would result in the development of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises in this field which will simultaneously serve the cause of self-reliance and socio-economic development of the country.