Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has termed Multinational Exercise 'Tarang Shakti' as an effort to strengthen cooperation, coordination and trust with the partner countries. Addressing the gathering at the Distinguished Visitors’ Day event in the second phase of the multinational exercise in Jodhpur, Shri Rajnath Singh said that through Tarang Shakti, India has further strengthened its defence ties with all partner countries and instills confidence among them that whenever the need arises, we all will stand together.

Reiterating India’s vision of mutual coexistence and cooperation, Raksha Mantri said that our nation believes in all nations marching together holding each others hands. “When an exercise of such complexity and large magnitude takes place, soldiers with different work cultures, air combat experiences and war fighting principles learn a lot from each other,” Raksha Mantri said.

Raksha Mantri said, “Today’s landmark event is an opportunity to celebrate the grand achievements of the Indian Air Force. We are not only celebrating the achievements of being the fastest growing economy, but also taking pride that our armed forces are now being considered as one of the most powerful in the world.”

Elaborating further, Raksha Mantri said, “At the time of independence the Indian Air Force had only six squadrons of two types of aircraft. Similarly, the rest of the war equipment was not only old but also limited in number. But today, equipped with the best and modern aircrafts from around the world and next generation equipment, the Indian Air Force has transformed itself.”

Referring to the recent collaboration of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with the French company Safran Helicopter Engines, Raksha Mantri said that we have transformed ourselves from being only an importer of arms and equipment to a nation which today exports arms and equipment to about 90 countries.  He further said, “Domestic defence sector has taken strong steps towards indigenisation in the manufacturing of weapons, platforms, aircraft etc. Today we have become self-reliant to a greater extent in the manufacturing of Light Combat Aircraft, Sensors, Radars and in executing electronic warfare.”

Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also graced the Distinguished Visitors’ Day event at Exercise Tarang Shakti. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, and senior military leaders from friendly foreign nations attended the event.

The event showcased a display by the Agniveer Vayu Women Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT) and demonstrations from the LCA Tejas, LCH Prachand, Sarang & SKAT teams.

Later in the day, Raksha Mantri inaugurated the prestigious International Defence and Aerospace Expo (IDAX-24), which showcased India’s commitment to indigenous defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from startups, MSMEs, and major aeronautical industries, with sixty-eight industry players presenting cutting-edge defence technologies. With participation from seven nations and twenty-one observer countries in phase two of the exercise, IDAX-24 underscored international collaboration, fostering dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of expertise, further strengthening India’s global standing in defence and aerospace.

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VK/SR/Anand