Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu called for making India fully self-reliant in all areas, including strategic domains. Addressing scientists and staff of the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory at Kochi, he, stressed the need for increasing indigenous content in the defence sector and cutting down on imports.
“To achieve that, we need to not only give greater thrust to R & D activities, but also allow private collaboration, wherever it is possible and feasible, with stringent quality controls”, he added.
On this occasion, Naidu virtually laid the foundation stone of the “Towed Array Integration Facility”, essential for the development of towed array sonar systems, which is critical to underwater defence. The towed array sonar system is expected to enhance the Navy’s capabilities to detect quieter enemy submarines underwater.
Asserting that India is strongly marching ahead on its way to becoming a global superpower in the coming decades, he lauded the scientists In defence, space and other areas for doing excellent work in strengthening India’s security.
Referring to the fact that India is still one of the largest importers of defence equipment, the Vice President said, in this context, the contribution of a small lab like NPOL in empowering the nation in its defence needs is truly commendable.
Keeping in view the geo-political scenario in our neighbourhood, the Vice President said NPOL’s role towards national security is paramount as all warships or conventional submarines in the fleet of the Indian Navy are installed with NPOL-developed sonars.
“Besides bringing in the socio-economic gains by stopping imports in this niche domain, NPOL has been able to master a very complex and critical technology that is giving a strategic edge to the Indian Navy in anti-submarine warfare capabilities”, he added.
Appreciating NPOL for building strong network with industry and contributing towards improving financial performance of PSUs, the Vice President noted that it has also nurtured more than 100 local industries, including MSMEs and Start-ups, for developing niche technologies.
On the occasion, the Vice President also inaugurated Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam memorial and an installation on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav near the laboratory. Describing the memorial as “truly befitting”, he said that it will inspire countless people from all walks of life every day.
Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohhammed Khan, Kerala Minister for Industries, P. Rajeev, Member of Parliament, Hibi Eden were present on the occasion.
Naidu visits INS Vikrant
Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu, visited India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant in Kochi today. Calling the carrier a ‘great icon for our drive towards Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, Naidu said the INS Vikrant is a realisation of the nation’s dream of an indigenous carrier.
Addressing an event later at Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a DRDO facility in Kochi, Naidu said he was elated to visit INS Vikrant and called it a ‘technological marvel’. He lauded the cooperation between Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Limited in building the aircraft carrier.
He observed that INS Vikrant will be a major boost to our defence preparedness on the seas. “A strong Navy is indeed a prerequisite for the nation’s growth and the construction of the aircraft carrier is a step in the right direction,” he added.
