The Aerospace and Defense Policy 2022-2027 introduced by the Karnataka government recently will boost indigenous production in the defense sector. This certainly helps India become "Atmanirbhar" (self-reliant), which is crucial especially when it concerns our national security - said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar, while speaking at the inauguration of the Regional Technology Node (RTN) of the Army Design Bureau in Bengaluru on Monday.
The Army Design Bureau, through RTN, hopes to leverage the location of Army Service Corps Centre & College to interface with trade, industry, and academia focusing on new and groundbreaking innovations and to aid advancements in technology that would benefit the Indian Army.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Make in India'' and “Skill India'' schemes to make India Atma Nirbhar, the state government had brought the new policy in the same spirit, said the minister.
"The setting up of RTN will lead to Karnataka playing a key role in the modernization of the defense sector, reducing imports in the defense sector and promotion of exports," said the minister adding that the new policy was expected to bring in investments worth Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 crore within the next 4-5 years.
"This will create jobs and strengthen research and development. The simplified policy also enhances the ease of doing business," said Sudhakar adding that India had made great progress in the field of aviation and aerospace and it's tactical capability got a massive boost with the commissioning of the indigenously-built INS Vikrant in Kochi.
Hailing Karnataka as a preferred hub for investors across all sectors and a pioneer in the field of aviation and aerospace since the inception of HAL in Bengaluru, the minister informed that 25% of the country's aerospace manufacturing industries were in Karnataka, and the state dominated this field. "Also, 67% of the helicopters and planes supplied to the defense sector were also being manufactured in the state," said the minister, who also asserted that Karnataka had gained the confidence of the investors and entrepreneurs in the post pandemic scenario and had attracted investment worth Rs 9.5 lakh crore in the recent concluded global investors' meet.
During a media interaction, the minister took pride in the fact that RTN in Bengaluru was started under the leadership of two Kannadigas - Lieutenant General B.S. Raju and Lieutenant Colonel B.K. Repswal