By Chaitali Bag
The Bharat Shakti exercise demonstrated the integrated operational capabilities of the Indian military in the face of threats in the land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains through the simulation of realistic and coordinated multi-domain operations.
Weapons and Essential Tools Various systems from the Indian Army took part in the exercise, demonstrating their advanced ground warfare and aerial surveillance capabilities. These systems include T-90 (IM) Tanks, Dhanush and Sarang Gun Systems, Akash Weapons System, Logistics Drones, Robotic Mules, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles. Naval Anti-Ship Missiles, Expendable Aerial Targets, and Autonomous Cargo Carrying Aerial Vehicles were on display by the Indian Navy, showcasing their technical prowess and nautical might. Displaying air supremacy and diversity in air operations, the Indian Air Force utilized aircraft such as the Light Utility Helicopters, Advanced Light Helicopters, and the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
Highlighting the resilience, ingenuity, and power of India’s domestic defence capabilities in the world arena, Bharat Shakti is a strong signal of India’s willingness to meet and overcome current and future difficulties with home-grown solutions. The event highlighted the inventiveness and dedication of the Indian military industry as well as the might and operational competence of the Indian Armed Forces, demonstrating the nation’s progress towards Aatmanirbharta in defence.
At the Tri-Services Live Fire and Manoeuvre Exercise at Pokhran, Rajasthan, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi observed a coordinated display of indigenous military capabilities. As a showcase of the country’s might, ‘Bharat Shakti’ included a variety of indigenous military systems and platforms, all based on the Aatmanirbharata programme.
While speaking at the event, the Prime Minister remarked, “Today, once again Pokhran became a witness of India’s Triveni of India’s Aatmnirbharta, self-confidence and its glory” and continued, “It is the same Pokhran that witnessed India’s nuclear test and today we are witnessing the power of strength from indigenization.” He went on to say that the skills and bravery displayed today were the cry of the new India.
Speaking about the test firing of the long-range AGNI missile with advanced MIRV technology, the Prime Minister emphasized that this testing is another achievement for Aatmairbhata in defence and confirmed that only a few countries possess this cutting-edge technology.
According to the Prime Minister, “the idea of Viksit Bharat is unimaginable without Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” which emphasizes the need of reducing dependency on others. According to the Prime Minister, India is prioritizing Aatmanirbharta across all of its products, from edible oils to fighter planes, and today’s event is a step in the right direction towards this goal. Indian tanks, cannons, fighter planes, helicopters, and missile systems are proof that Aatmnirbharta was successful in defence, according to the prime minister. Here we are witnessing the take-off of Made in India in the realms of armaments and ammunition, communication gadgets, cyberspace, and space travel. The Prime Minister exclaimed with joy, “This is truly Bharat Shakti.” Among the other things he listed were fighter jets built at Tejas, sophisticated light combat helicopters, destroyers, aircraft carriers, artillery, and subs.
Policy changes, enlisting the private sector, and encouraging MSME startups in the area were among the actions listed by the Prime Minister as ways to make India self-reliant in the military industry. He detailed an investment of Rs 7,000 crore on defensive corridors in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Also, India is now home to the biggest helicopter manufacturer in Asia. The Chiefs of the three armies were commended by him for their work in compiling lists of non-importable products, which would help protect the Indian ecosystems. The Prime Minister was pleased to hear that Indian firms had been awarded contracts worth Rs 6 lakh crore in the past decade. During this time, the country’s defence manufacturing increased by 100%, reaching over Rs 1 lakh crore. More than 150 defence companies have emerged in the past decade, with orders totaling Rs 1,800 crore from the defence services.
“The assurance of self-confidence in the armed forces is the guarantee of Aatmanirbharta for India’s defence needs,” Prime Minister Modi stated. He emphasized that when weapons and equipment are created domestically, the military’s energy levels skyrocket. The Prime Minister announced that in the past decade, the country has manufactured its own fighter jets, aircraft carriers, C295 transport planes, and improved engines for flight. The Prime Minister spoke on the future of the military sector and the many job and self-employment possibilities that would be generated in relation to the recent Cabinet decision to design, develop, and build 5th-generation fighter planes in India. The Prime Minister recalled a period when India was the world’s leading weapons importer and spoke about how the country has recently become a defence exporter, noting that exports have increased eightfold since 2014.
In reminiscence of the climate of defence frauds, ammunition shortages, and the decline of the ordnance factories prior to 2014, the Prime Minister brought up the corporatization of these facilities into seven large enterprises. The same happened at HAL, which went from bankrupt to a record-breaking business. In addition to the War Memorial and border infrastructure, Prime Minister Modi brought up the development of CDS.
Prime Minister Modi took delight in saying, “Families of service personnel from the armed forces have experienced the meaning of Modi’s guarantee” when he mentioned the implementation of One Rank One Pension. He said that 1.75 lakh Rajasthani defence personnel had benefited from the OROP’s Rs 5,000 crores.
Prime Minister Modi stressed that a nation’s military might is directly related to its economic might. When we reach our goal of becoming the world’s third-biggest economy, he promised, our military might would soar to unprecedented levels. “Viksit Rajasthan will give strength to Viksit Sena,” he declared, recognizing Rajasthan’s significance in the process.
