India and Malaysia discuss wide range of security issues; Defence Minister AK Antony: There is tremendous scope for both the Public and Private sector to grow and play a meaningful role in manufacturing Defence equipment and platform for the Armed Forces
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  • (NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1)

    According to reports, General Tan Sri Dato Sri Rodzali Bin Daud, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force who is on a four day visit to India called on Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ, Vayu Bhawan on November 26. The meeting saw a wide range of bilateral issues being discussed which relate to the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries. As there is a commonality of aircraft being operated by the two air forces, General Rodzali Bin Daud is also slated to visit IAF's Pune airbase to see the training facilities of Su-30 MKIs and Ozar base repair depot in Nasik which houses MiG-29 Upgrade and Overhaul facility as well as Su-30 manufacturing facility. A team of IAF pilots and technicians were in Malaysia in 2008 for a period of two years to train the Malaysian Pilots, Weapon System Operators (WSO) and Maintenance staff for the smooth induction and operation of their newly acquired Su-30 MKM fighter aircraft. IAF has also assisted them in setting up a Systems School for the Su-30 MKM at Gong Kedak Air Base. 1

    The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony on November 25 said there is tremendous scope for both the Public and Private sector to grow and play a meaningful role in manufacturing Defence equipment and platform for the Armed Forces. Speaking at a function to award RakshaMantri’s Awards for Excellence here, Shri Antony said even if both the public and private sector work to their full potential, they would not be able to fulfil all the requirements of the Services in the near future. Giving an overview of the defence manufacturing sector, Shri Antony said, the private sector is emerging at a rapid pace. He said, though the public sector has been manufacturing advance weapon systems and platforms over the years, the pace and direction of the progress has left a lot to be desired. “Our over dependence on imports has made us one of the largest importers of defence equipment in the world. Our public sector must own up large responsibility in realising our aspirations of self-reliance in the defence sector,” he said. Shri Antony said defence production in our country has been done mainly by the Ordnance Factory Board and Defence PSUs. However times are changing at a rapid pace. “With the opening up of defence production for the private sector, several large industries have shown a keen interest to invest and develop capabilities in defence production and assume the role of system integrators. The private sector and the public sector must work in tandem and look upon each other as healthy competitors, rather than rivals,” he said. 2

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