Rajnath Singh during his speech at Ambala airbase.
Ambala: Targeting China amid the heightened border tension in eastern Ladakh, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said induction of Rafale combat aircraft assumes more significance in the current situation as it has sent a strong message to India’s adversaries, who are eyeing at its sovereignty.
However, he did not take China’s name directly.
“The induction of Rafale is a strong message for the world and especially for those who challenge India’s sovereignty. The induction is a very important step in light of the prevailing security conditions that prevail, or I would say, that have been created along India’s borders,” Singh said after formally inducting the first batch of five Rafale jets at Ambala Air Force station.
Rafale with its multirole capabilities can perform a variety of tasks including air-superiority missions and precision strikes against enemies, he said.
Expressing confidence about induction of Rafale into the IAF arsenal, the defence minister said the capabilities and technological edge acquired with Rafale induction will revolutionize the capabilities of the Indian Air Force.
On IAF capability, he said, “The Indian Air Force plays an important role in maintaining military deterrence and their actions will be decisive in any future war.”
Further, he said national security has been a topmost priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Many obstacles came in the way of finding the air power that we are able to witness with our eyes today. But we were able to overcome those obstacles,” he said.
On terrorism, he added, “While the prevailing situation on our boundaries has caught our attention, we should not ignore the threat of cross-border terrorism.”
On Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region, the minister said, “I am happy to state that in the security concerns of this region; the views of India and France converge and we are cooperating with each other in dealing with common challenges like maritime traffic security and piracy.”
Aiming to bring more foreign direct investment, he invited French companies to invest in India.
“I would like to urge and invite our partner country France to invest in the Indian defence sector. Responding to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) call by our prime minister, the government has taken several progressive and positive steps in this direction,” he added.
IAF formally inducted Rafale in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh, French defence minister Florence Parly, CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, IAF chief ACM RKS Bhadauria among others.
