Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that 2025 will be designated as the ‘Year of Reforms’ for the Ministry of Defence during the inauguration of the 15th edition of Aero India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station on Monday. This declaration aims to enhance the defence sector’s capabilities and foster international collaborations.
“India’s security and peace cannot exist in isolation. They are part of a broader framework that transcends national borders,” Singh stated, underscoring the importance of global partnerships in ensuring stability and peace. He pointed out that India has maintained a stance of non-aggression and has not engaged in great power rivalries, positioning the country as a proponent of peace and stability.
Rajnath Singh also emphasized that Aero India 2025 will serve as a platform for showcasing critical and frontier technologies, strengthening ties among like-minded nations based on mutual respect and shared interests.
He noted that the event represents a shift from traditional buyer-seller relationships to deeper industrial collaborations, highlighting successful co-production and co-development initiatives with various countries.
The Defence Minister remarked on India’s rapid transition from a developing to a developed nation, attributing this progress to a robust defence industry ecosystem cultivated through strategic planning by the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He highlighted that the defence sector, once overlooked as a component of the national economy, is now a vital engine driving economic growth.
Singh reiterated that the declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ is not merely a slogan but a genuine commitment to transformative changes within the Ministry of Defence.
He expressed the government’s resolve to enhance private sector participation in the defence industry, recognizing its potential to contribute significantly to the economy through innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Defence Minister cited the joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus for the production of C-295 transport aircraft in Gujarat as a prime example of successful collaboration in the defence sector.
He expressed confidence that defence production would reach ₹1.60 lakh crore by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year, with defence exports expected to surpass ₹30,000 crore.
Singh emphasized that the reform initiatives are not limited to the ministry alone; they involve active participation from the Armed Forces and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). He called for the engagement of all stakeholders in the defence sector to accelerate the reform process.
Drawing a parallel between Aero India and the Mahakumbh festival, Singh described Aero India as a “Kumbh of research,” focusing on external strength and showcasing India’s technological prowess.
He highlighted the significant advancements made since the last Aero India event, including the development of high-tech products such as the Astra Missile, New Generation Akash Missile, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Unmanned Surface Vessel, and Pinaka Guided Rocket.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including State Defence Secretary Sanjay Seth, Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka DK Shiva Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, and other key officials.
Aero India 2025, recognized as Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, will run for five days, showcasing India’s aerial capabilities and indigenous innovations alongside advanced products from global aerospace companies.
The event aligns with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiatives, aiming to foster international collaborations and expedite the indigenization process, thereby supporting Prime Minister Modi’s vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.
