Jaitley dedicates Hawk-i, launches LCH production

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley who visited three defence public sector units in the city on Saturday described his trip as a “day of satisfaction and personal education”.

Jaitley was speaking at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) after launching the production of the indigenously-designed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and dedicating the combat-ready Hawk-i to the nation. Earlier in the day, he visited Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to inaugurate an Academy of Excellence and two new testing facilities. Jaitley also launched a third production line at  the Metro manufacturing facility of Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML). This will increase its production capacity from 18 Metro coaches per month to 27.

Addressing the audience at HAL, Jaitley said, “In the present geopolitical situation, India is located somewhat sensitively. We have had multiple threats in the past and we can’t compromise on preparedness.”  He said that we need to put our entire nation’s resources into our defence preparedness. Jaitley said it was ironic that India has been dependent on other countries for technology and equipment when it has the best minds in technology and research.

“It is necessary for us to come out of the mindset that we’ll always be a buyer. This has been created because of narrow policies. Change has been long overdue.”

Jaitley said that India’s defence sector is systematically moving in the direction of being a major manufacturing hub for the country’s needs and for export. “The government has made some important changes in the Defence Procurement Policy. Some platforms have been opened to the private sector to set up manufacturing facilities. We can have joint ventures and technology transfers. We need healthy competition to encourage entrepreneurship in both the private and government defence sectors,” Jaitley said.  

Highlights

A section of BEML employees wore ‘Save BEML’ badges at the launch as a mark of protest against the Centre’s move to reduce its stake in the PSU.

Hawk-i (Hawk-India) is the 100th Hawk jet trainer aircraft which has been indigenously converted into a combat-ready aircraft.

It has Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems, digital map generator and is capable of delivering precision munitions.

The addition of the third line at the Metro manufacturing facility of BEML will increase production capacity from 18 coaches a month to 27.

The BEL Academy for Excellence, set up over six acres will train BEL employees, customers, vendors, especially, MSMEs and SMEs. It will cater to skill development initiatives of the Central government in areas of quality, technology and leadership.