An Indian-designed-and-manufactured howitzer was for the first time used for the customary 21-gun salute at Red Fort before Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his address to the nation on Monday. The PM mentioned this achievement in his speech and saluted the armed forces for supporting his vision for a self-reliant India.
"The sound that we always wanted to hear, we are hearing it after 75 years. It is after 75 years that the tricolour has got the ceremonial salute at the Red Fort for the first time from a made-in-India gun," Modi said in his address to the nation.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the indigenously manufactured Brahmos supersonic missile. In January, India inked the first export order with the Philippines for the missile system. The order is worth over 375 million dollars.
BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. Some other countries have also shown interest in procuring the Brahmos missiles.
As regards the ‘desi gun,’ so far, British guns have been used for the ceremonial salute. Also, for the first time, MI-17 helicopters showered flowers at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations.Modi said all Indians will get inspired and feel empowered on hearing this made-in-India gun roar. The Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO)has designed the howitzer or the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)under the government's 'Make in India' initiative.
"For the first time after 75 years, the Made-in-India cannon has saluted the Tricolour from the Red Fort. Will there be any Indian who will not be inspired by this sound? My dear brothers and sisters, today I want to congratulate the soldiers of the army of my country from my heart," Modi said.
"I salute the way the army jawans have shouldered this responsibility of self-reliance in an organised way and with courage....He stands firmly in the middle when there is no gap between death and life," he said.
The Prime Minister also talked about the decision of the armedforces to not import around 300 items. "The resolution of our country is not small when the armed forces make a list and decide not to import 300 defence products," he said."In this resolution, I can see the seed of a bright future of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' that will convert this dream into a banyan tr ee. Salute! Salute! Salute to my army officers!" Modi said.
The prime minister said India is becoming a manufacturing hub and that people from around the world are coming to the country to try their luck.
"Which Indian wouldn't be proud when our Brahmos is exported to the world? Today the Vande Bharat train and our metro coaches arebecoming objects of attraction for the world," he said.
The government has initiated a series of measures in the last few years to boost domestic defence manufacturing. The government in August 2020 came out with the first "positive indigenisation" list of 101 items including towed artillery guns, cruise missiles and offshore patrol vessels, which were put under import restrictions under a staggered timeline.
In May last year, the government approved restrictions on the import of an additional 108 military weapons and systems such as next-generation corvettes, airborne early warning systems, tank engines and radars under a timeline of four-and-half years.