Gujarat: Army chief MM Naravane inaugurates Ahmedabad Design Week on defence, aerospace sectors
India Today
Indian Army chief General MM Naravane inaugurated the Ahmedabad Design Week 3.0 on defence and aerospace sectors on Saturday in Ahmedabad.
Army Chief General MM Naravane inaugurated the Ahmedabad Design Week 3.0 organised by Karnavati University in Ahmedabad on Saturday where he delivered a speech on design innovation in the defence and aerospace sectors.
"68 per cent of whatever we buy as armed forces-- Indian Army, Navy and Air force-- the orders will go to our own Indian companies. Let me also tell you, as far as the Army is concerned, we are far ahead. 85 per cent of whatever the Indian army buys is indigenous. Side by side, a defence corridor is being set up. We already have in Chennai and Lucknow," Gen Naravane said.
He added, "With all these things in place, putting all our minds together, young entrepreneurs and designers, the assistance the army is giving and various initiatives of the government. We will give you opportunities and you will all give us solutions. With those solutions, we as a nation will fight and win tomorrow's war with Indian equipment."
READ: India is witnessing trailers of future conflicts, says Army chief MM Naravane
Gen Naravane stressed on the need for new design and innovation and how keeping up with fast growing new technologies is very important.
Giving examples, the army chief said, "We have to change and create innovation. Kodak and Nokia are the best examples. They did not change. Currently, I am wearing a 39-year-old HMT watch, but the time keepers of the nation (HMT) could not keep pace with the time and today is nowhere to be found. The change is exponential and changes fast. Changes have to be made all the time. Ships and aircrafts are no longer the same as they used to be 100 years old. However, the tank has remained the same. From World War till now, more or less tanks have remained the same."
Gen Naravane said that the new design we make should be made in a way that remains effective for the next 50 years. He gave classic examples like, "the trucks in the army are the same as we use in deserts, Himalayas or difficult terrain. Do we need the same truck for sea level and mighty mountains?"
