DRDO's NETRA Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEWACS) at the Republic Parade

Republic Day 2018: Republic Day parade showcases India's military might India showcases the strength of its indigenous military equipment

The Republic Day 2018 parade was dominated by the display of India's indigenous defence equipment might and grandeur. The indigenous defence fleet during the parade included aircrafts, helicopters, tanks, and missiles, and other Indian defence sector feats.

The 69th Republic Day parade today concluded in New Delhi, showcasing India’s military might and grandeur. The Republic Day parade, where the heads of all the ASEAN nations were present as the chief guesst, saw India displaying its indigenously-built sophisticated defence equipment. The indigenous defence fleet during the parade included aircrafts, helicopters, tanks, and missiles, and other Indian defence sector feats.

India’s defence inventory that was displayed during the parade were – Rudra Helicopter, Dhruv Helicopter, Netra (Airborne Early Warning and Control System), Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, BrahMos missile, Swathi Weapon Locating Radar, Bridge Layer Tank T-72, Akash missile system, and Nirbhay Missile system.

Each of the defence equipment displayed during the parade adds to India’s defence strength. While other defence equipment has been displayed in the Republic Day parades earlier, this was the first time a Rudra helicopter of Army Aviation was a part of the flypast at the parade. The Rudra Formation, the Hercules Formation, Netra, Globe Formation and several more formations by the Indian Air Force marked the culmination of the Republic Day parade.

Lately, there has been an increasing effort by India to become self-reliant in the defence sector. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, earlier this month, also called for self-reliance in terms of defence equipment manufacturing.

Speaking at the Army Technology Seminar in Delhi, General Rawat had said on January 8, this year, “The time has come to ensure that we fight the next war with homemade solutions.”

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, last year, had also informed about the indigenous push to defence equipment saying, “The modernisation plan of the IAF is being pursued with an aim to give impetus to ‘Make in India’ and to beef up the defence manufacturing base. We in IAF are keen to see that ‘Make in India’ initiative gets converted to a reality.”

It must also be important to note here that India recently scrapped a defence-equipment deal with Israel.