In a major boost to the country’s military infrastructure, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday officially inducted the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Air Defence System into the Air Force in Rajasthan.
The MR-SAM defence system was inducted into the 2204 Squadron of the Indian Air Force in Jaisalmer.
“The MR-SAM System is being inducted into the Indian Air Force today. This is another step towards self-reliance in indigenous defence technologies… The global scenario is changing rapidly and unexpectedly, leading to changes in equations between different countries. Be it the South China Sea, Indian Ocean Region, Indo-Pacific or Central Asia, a situation of uncertainty can be seen. Recently what happened in Afghanistan is an example of this,” Singh said.
The air defence system has a range of 70 kms and can hit any aircraft, helicopters and incoming missiles. With a speed of Mach-2, it will be crucial in protecting the Indian military establishments. The deal between the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop the system was signed a decade ago.
Earlier today, Singh and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari jointly inaugurated an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for the IAF at Satta-Gandhav stretch on the NH-925A near Barmer in Rajasthan.
The first aircraft to land during the demonstration was the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft with Singh, Gadkari and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on board.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat witnessed the landing demonstration at the National Highway in Jalore.
Singh lauded the IAF, NHAI and the private sector for completing the Emergency Landing Field within 19 months despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
“It is a great example of coordination among multiple departments and ministries, government and private sector and, civil and defence… The landing of an IAF aircraft on the 3 km stretch is a historic new strength of New India as it coincides with the 75th year of Indian Independence and the 50th year of India’s victory in the 1971 war,” the Defence Minister noted.
