Bengaluru

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), on September 27, 2022, opened its integrated cryogenic engine manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. Inaugurating the facility, the President of India Droupadi Murmu, said, "Inauguration of the integrated cryogenic engine manufacturing facility is indeed a historic moment not only for HAL and ISRO, but also for the whole country to have a state-of-the-art facility to manufacture cryogenic and semi-cryogenic engines. HAL has contributed immensely to India’s self reliance in defence. HAL has been the force behind the forces." HAL has time and again demonstrated its capabilities in research, development and manufacturing of various aircraft platforms.

Stating that ISRO has been the pride of the nation, Droupadi Murmu said, "When this institution started operations in the 1960s, India was still a young Republic, facing challenges of severe poverty and illiteracy. But there was immense potential. The rapid pace, with which ISRO has grown, caught the attention of even the most advanced and technologically developed countries. Sincere efforts and dedication of ISRO have made India emerge as the sixth country in the world to have cryogenic engine manufacturing capabilities."

The President said that HAL and ISRO together contribute to strategic defence and development. Both the organisations have played a major role in the development of various equipment and programmes which have reinforced the security and development of our country. HAL with its high end facility of manufacturing defence related equipment has proved to be an invaluable asset for our country.

President Droupadi Murmu said that the glorious past of HAL and ISRO gives us an assurance that these organisations will continue to play a significant and positive role in the future as India enters the Amrit Kaal. "By 2047, when we will celebrate the 100 years of Independence, the world around us will have changed drastically. Just as we were in no position 25 years ago to imagine the contemporary world, we cannot visualise today how Artificial Intelligence and automation are going to transform life. We have completed 75 years as an independent country. We are looking ahead at the next 25 years as the period to re-imagine India and make it a developed country. It is our joint responsibility to ensure that the India of 2047 will be a much more prosperous and strong nation," she added.

Referring to Bengaluru as Space City, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, said that the state contributed most of the space and defence related manufacturing activities in the country and Karnataka will continue to support the development of science and technology projects in the state to realise the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.

Somanath S, Secretary, Dept of Space and Chairman of ISRO, added, "India can emerge as a superpower in rocket technology only with the help of HAL which has shown ability to absorb complicated space technology with perfection. ISRO, therefore, is confident that the entire rocket manufacturing will happen at HAL’s facility."