On September 25, 2023, Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Mr. Rajnath Singh inaugurated Bharat Drone Shakti 2023, a first-of-its-kind drone exhibition and show, at the Air Force Station, Hindan in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The Drone Federation of India (DFI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have jointly organised it. The two-day event being held on September 25-26, 2023, will include over 75 drone start-ups from across the country.
The drones on display at the show can be used for both military and civilian purposes. The IAF and DFI are seeking to support the Government’s initiative to make India a major drone hub by 2030 by exhibiting their capabilities through a series of aerial & statics demonstrations.
The first C-295 MW transport aircraft was formally welcomed into the IAF after Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 was officially launched. ‘Sarv Dharm Puja’ and a presentation on the aircraft’s capabilities made up the occasion. The HS-748 Avro aircraft will be replaced by this medium-lift tactical aircraft, which can take off and land on unsuitable landing fields.
The first 16 of the 56 contracted aircraft will be handed to the IAF in a ‘fly-away’ condition, but Tata Advanced Systems Limited will produce the remaining 40 at their plant in Vadodara. Vadodara is also home to 11 Squadron (The Rhinos), the first IAF squadron to receive the aircraft.
The Defence Minister and other dignitaries were also given an update on the IAF’s most recent internal innovations during the event. Projects like a hybrid drone detection system, an Al Engine for fault diagnosis, a fly-by-wire tester, stabilised power supply trolleys, a QR Code-based tool crib management system, as well as contemporary teaching tools were on display.
(The article was published on Ibef.org on September 26, 2023 and has been reproduced here)
