PM Modi hands over indigenous systems to armed forces

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's goal to be a major global defence supplier, while symbolically handing over several new indigenous systems to the armed forces in Jhansi on Friday.

The PM handed over systems like the homegrown light combat helicopter that has a proven combat capability even in high altitude areas of Ladakh. Modi said that startups are being given a chance to showcase capabilities and private sector encouraged to bring in talent.

"For a long time, India has been among the largest arms buyer. Today, the mantra of the country is Make in India, Make for the world," Modi said at the 'Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv' organised in the precincts of Jhansi Fort.


Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that in the near future, India will make more than 90% arms it requires domestically and is already emerging as a major exporter of arms to friendly nations. Besides laying the foundation stone of a Rs 400 crore project of Bharat Dynamics at Jhansi Node of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor, the PM handed over a DRDO designed and developed advanced electronic warfare suite 'Shakti' for the Indian Navy, the light combat helicopter for the Air Force and drones for the Army.

LCH is the first dedicated combat helicopter designed and developed in India.