“India is strategically poised to play a pivotal role due to the geostrategic position in the Indian Ocean for which indigenous capability was essential for peaceful coexistence and security in the region,” stated Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth during a seminar organised by Indian Navy on February 12, 2025 at Aero India 2025, Bengaluru.
With the theme ‘Transition to Aatmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation – 2047 and its Associated Ecosystem’, a vision document, ‘Indian Naval Aviation –Technological Roadmap 2047’ was unveiled by the Raksha Rajya Mantri with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi present during the seminar.
Shri Sanjay Seth stated that recent world conflicts have demonstrated that a credible defence force supported by a robust industrial base was key to a strong and vibrant nation. He urged all the stakeholders to remain steadfast and resolute in their efforts to provide innovative, indigenous and long-lasting solutions to complex problems through a productive & collaborative approach.
He commended the Indian Navy’s efforts in formulating the technology road map 2047 towards becoming an ‘Aatmanirbhar’, agile, responsive and future ready force. Raksha Rajya Mantri highlighted the fact that the technology roadmap being unveiled was not merely a book but a credible document towards realising the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ enunciated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The document would serve as a guiding beacon to indigenous defence R&D, DPSUs, Industry partners, MSMEs, Startups and academia and various stakeholders. He called for the necessity to reduce timeframes in design, development and deployment of systems.
Throwing light upon the power of Indian Navy, Shri Sanjay Seth stated that the last decade had witnessed the emergence of India as a reckonable economic power with the Indian Navy ranking among the top advanced navies of the world. He mentioned that the Indian Navy with over 60 warships under construction in various Indian Shipyards and over 39 indigenous ships & submarines having been commissioned in the last couple of years was a true ambassador of ‘Aatmanirbharta’.
He exhorted the Indian Navy for their nation first attitude and commended the dedication and unrelenting efforts towards self-reliance. Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi in his address stated that the ever-evolving nature of war fighting particularly in the air domain called for continual efforts and adoption of niche technologies in the aviation sector.
He further highlighted that Aero India had been aptly themed as a runway to a billion opportunities as it offers a common platform to all stakeholders, R&D establishments, Industry, MSMEs, Startup and academia to exchange ideas; provide access to examine, evaluate & gain first-hand experience of advanced systems, technologies and equipment.
Chief of the Naval Staff bolstered the fact that the Indian Navy aviation was leapfrogging from traditional Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles to technology intensive tasks such as communication relay, jamming platforms, scientific research and SAR roles.
He further stated that the futuristic design and development of fighters, helicopters, airborne systems, avionics and weapon equipment were all testimony to the relentless efforts and unwavering commitment of the Indian Navy to mission Aatmanirbharta and 100% self-reliance by 2047.
‘Aatmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation – 2047’ seminar highlighted the priorities and objectives that will guide naval aviation in its growth over the next two decades by unshackling innovation, creating a conducive ecosystem to enable capability development by being a catalyst in the indigenous aviation technology revolution.