Indigenous military might on show in Pokhran, PM Modi in attendance
As spectators marveled at the ‘Bharat Shakti’ exercise in Rajasthan on 12 March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Pokhran as a testament to India’s self-reliance, belief, and self-pride.
The integrated tri-service firepower and manoeuvre exercise, lasting about 50 minutes at the Pokhran field firing range, showcased India’s indigenous defense equipment as per a report by The Hindu.
The skies reverberated with the roar of LCA Tejas and ALH Mk-IV, while on the ground, the Main Battle Tank Arjun, and artillery gun systems like K-9 Vajra, Dhanush, and Sharang demonstrated their capabilities.
Technological marvels like the Pinaka satellite system and a fleet of drones captivated the audience.
Prime Minister Modi described the exercise as the call of a ‘new India’ and highlighted Pokhran’s significance as the site of India’s past nuclear tests.
“Pokhran epitomises India’s self-reliance, belief, and self-pride,” he remarked.
The exercise, located approximately 100 km from Jaisalmer city, was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
This unprecedented exercise, not targeted at any specific direction or adversary, according to the same report, demonstrates India’s preparedness to tackle current and future challenges with indigenous solutions.