In pursuit of futuristic technologies and to harness the potential of indigenous defence industry, Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a seminar on the theme 'Navachar Utkrishtam Bhavisyam (Innovation is the Path to better Future) at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 11, 2025. The seminar aimed to inspire collaboration between defence forces, industry, and R&D agencies, fostering a robust ecosystem for innovation. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth addressed the event with Chief of the Air Staff in attendance.

“Aatmanirbharta is not merely a policy but transformative vision for India's future. The defence sector stands as a cornerstone of the vision, where fostering indigenous innovation and reducing dependence on foreign technologies are paramount” said Raksha Rajya Mantri while highlighting the role of Indian Air Force in actively supporting indigenous defence development and manufacturing.

Shri Sanjay Seth further stated that development of indigenous defence capability would ensure continued maintenance support and operational edge, along with boosting the operational potential of the Armed Forces. It will ensure that the services are always future ready and ahead of the curve. He threw light upon the fact that in the last few years, IAF has successfully launched 78 projects under iDEX scheme, 48 projects under MAKE and 37 in TDF initiative which are under various stages of development

Raksha Rajya Mantri called upon all stakeholders to join hands in helping the Armed Forces equip the tools they need to address the ever-evolving security challenges. He emphasised that the MSMEs and startups are the backbone of innovation in India, possessing the agility and creativity to drive change at an unprecedented pace. He further encouraged the MSMEs to leverage their capabilities and take bold steps into defence production, as their contributions are vital to building a secure and self-reliant India.

During the seminar, Raksha Rajya Mantri released the compendium authored by the Air Force, ‘IAF Compendium of Challenges & Opportunities for Indian Industry’ that identifies key challenges in the defence sector and highlights opportunities for innovation and growth in aerospace domain. He also launched VAYU VITT digital portal created by IAF for placing supply orders, certification & payments between IAF and HAL, which will not only enhance digitisation but also improve efficiency and transparency. Further, he announced the winners of Mehar Baba-II competition and launched the Mehar Baba-III challenge as well.

As part of the event, a panel discussion on 'Manned Unmanned Teaming- From Concept to Targeting' was conducted with eminent experts from the aerospace domain including scientists, industrialists, certification agencies and end users. The panel discussion underscored the pivotal role of Indian Industry in driving indigenous solutions for futuristic technologies to meet the evolving defence and security needs of our Nation.

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