Lt General Gerhartz elaborates that Germany is on a supersonic speed to modernise its forces with a defence budget of 2 per cent of GDP plus Euro 100 billion and since developing a capability takes time, they are filling the gaps through immediate acquisition of systems and platforms. In an exclusive and a detailed interview to Manish Jha, the Luftwaffe Chief also talks about Germany’s presence in the Indo-Pacific and building a new era of military cooperation with India.

When the Air Chief of a high-tech country like Germany, makes such a statement, it should be taken very seriously by our policy makers. This is similar to what was voiced by Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal A.P. Singh, during a seminar about a month back where he said that “Atmanirbharta cannot be at the cost of nation’s defence. Nation’s defence comes first and foremost.” As India marks its 78th Independence Day, it is incumbent upon the government to ensure that our Armed Forces have the necessary capability to take on all security challenges and any gaps in the same are filled urgently, even if that means acquiring that capability till the time we achieve ‘Atmanirbharta’ in the same. India’s achievements during the last 77 years have been truly remarkable and nations worldwide seek to collaborate with us, now that India has become a global force. While we celebrate our past, we must remain committed to building a better, stronger and safer future for our nation.

A cornerstone of India’s journey towards self-reliance has been ISRO, whose remarkable achievements have firmly established the country as a formidable global force in space exploration. As Ayushee Chaudhary reports, with upcoming major space programmes, ISRO is poised to further elevate India’s stature on the world stage. These initiatives not only advance scientific discovery but also hold immense potential for economic growth, fostering innovation, creating high-skilled jobs, and opening up new avenues in satellite technology, telecommunications, and space tourism, thereby contributing significantly to the nation’s economy.

While the primary responsibility of the Indian Air Force is defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, IAF plays a vital and a much more elaborate role in Nation building. Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) details how IAF’s global reach ensures India’s ability to conduct defence diplomacy and humanitarian operations and highlights its crucial role in safeguarding and supporting the nation way beyond the traditional military functions.

In the last 77 years, India’s aviation sector has played a pivotal role in the economic growth of the country through efficient air transportation. Rohit Goel looks at how a thriving commercial aviation sector is driving the Indian economy forward, acting as a catalyst for growth by boosting tourism, trade, employment, and infrastructure development.

The success of the UDAN – the Regional Connectivity Scheme, has revolutionised India’s aviation industry by making air travel more accessible, driving economic growth, enhancing regional connectivity and becoming a key pillar of the nation’s aviation strategy. Ayushee Chaudhary writes on how connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities across the country has resulted in merging the remote parts to the country with the main stream leading to significant social progress and economic prosperity in these regions.

All this and more in this issue of SP’s Aviation. Welcome aboard and we wish a very Happy Independence Day to all our readers!