Admiral R. Hari Kumar, who is the Chief of the Naval Staff, praised Indian industry on Monday for its part in helping the country reach its “self-reliance” goal in the defense sector by 2047. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nibe Defence and Aerospace Limited factory in Chakan, which is close to Pune. Union Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt and Maharashtra Minister for Industries Uday Samant were also there.
A fully automated factory can make tools for ships that can be used as weapons, airframes, weapon systems for ships or submarines, and torpedo tubes.
It was his belief that sites like these would help India make its own defense equipment. Nibe Industries has been working on a number of projects, such as making rocket launchers for Pinaka multi-barrel systems, road-mobile launchers for missile systems, and barrels for vertical missile launchers.
The navy chief stressed that in order to reach the goal of self-reliance, the country would need help from the business sector, especially Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). This way, the country can make important defense parts like weapons without having to rely on imports.
His words were like this: “We can reach Atma Nirbharta before 2047 by becoming self-reliant and supporting and strengthening industrial ecosystems that include MSME’s.”
“You need the tools and machines if you want to make defense things in your country.” “This is a fully automated facility, and it will make a big difference in how well we can make weapon-grade equipment for ships, airframes, weapon systems on ships or submarines, torpedo tubes, and anything else that needs to be very precise,” he said.
When asked about the problem of piracy in the Indo-Pacific area, the navy chief said that the navy works with helpful foreign countries.
“Right now, we still mostly share information with them.” We are the biggest naval force that lives in the Indian Ocean, and we will not let anyone threaten the safety, security, and stability of this area. A group of three to four ships has been sent to the area around Somalia to teach anyone who pirates a harsh lesson. “The navy has been able to deal with piracy more effectively since the government passed the Anti-Piracy Act 2022,” he said.
The navy chief went on to say that the navy is also fighting drones in the north Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.
“It is our duty to help people from our own country and any other country who is in trouble.” “We believe in helping anyone in trouble on the seas,” he said.
