New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Thursday said that steps are being taken to strengthen the defence industrial capabilities under the ‘Aatmanirbharta’ initiative.

“A number of steps are being taken to strengthen the defence industrial capabilities under the ‘Aatmanirbharta’ initiative. We are boosting our indigenous and innovative defence capabilities,” the CDS said while inaugurating the Avionics Exposition 2023, organised by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in New Delhi.

He said that the government has adopted the ‘Aatmanirbharta’ initiative to mitigate uncertainties and this vision demonstrates its confidence in the domestic industry.

The CDS also called upon the domestic defence industries to bolster technological capabilities to address traditional and future challenges while urging the industry to understand the requirement of services, and evolve solutions which fit the country's terrain, climate and operational requirements.

“India’s challenges must be resolved with Indian solutions as a series of contemporary events have exposed the vulnerability of global supply chains,” he CDS said.

He also highlighted the economic prospects of self-reliance in defence including aerospace and avionics.

“Global Military Avionics Market is projected to grow to US dollar 56.998 billion by 2030. This provides us a window of opportunity which needs to be exploited by believing in the mantra of ‘Make for India, Make for World,” the CDS said.

He also underscored the significance of new-age technologies and termed it essential for modern militaries to be ready to fight today while preparing for an “uncertain and ambiguous” future, in the era of dynamic global security landscape and rapid technological advancements.

Stating that the convergence of new technologies is making the battle space more automated and autonomous, he stressed that the advent of technological solutions in the field of networking, data analytics and robotics have heralded a new landscape in the field of avionics.

The CDS also urged the military and the scientific community to maintain pace with the technological requirements, so that the nation remains ahead of the curve.

“This would need investment of thoughts, skill and capital. In the field of military avionics, it will include precision targeting, electronic warfare, aircraft health monitoring and data connectivity for positive control,” the CDS added.

The two-day Avionics Expo-2023 is being held at Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. During the expo, the HAL is showcasing its design, development and production of a diverse range of avionics systems.