‘Foreign partners should share risk, work’

Vehicles (UAV), tactical missiles and military propulsion systems, Defence Minister AK Antony told an international seminar.

“Shared efforts in technology lead to the development of cost effective solutions”, he said in his presidential address at the seminar on “Aerospace Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities”, an event which is part of the Aero India 2007, commencing on Wednesday. “However, any such partnership should share the gains, risks as well as the work structure”, Antony said.

He said it is the government’s resolve to introduce fairness and transparency in its dealings and added that the offset policy of the government seeks to provide avenues for the growth of medium and small-scale entrepreneurs.

This policy will also help smaller players upgrade their engineering and manufacturing skills to compete with the best in the world. “Several small players have in fact come forward to showcase their capabilities and tone up their skills through interaction with global players”.

In his address, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi said India’s security needs in the coming years will be best met by a range of aerospace assets.

“Aerospace assets are required because they have a very long reach and can get there very quickly,” he said. “The 21st century belongs to aerospace power,” he added.