In John F Kennedy’s words, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a
difference in our lives,”
Mushtifund Aryans higher secondary school had a rare opportunity to interact with Mr. Sandeep Unnithan, executive editor with India Today who spoke on “The Quest for indigenisation in the Aerospace Sector
– the Grey Revolution”.
The clarity, depth of knowledge and engaging manner in which the session was conducted was highly informative and thoroughly captivating. Mr Unnithans explanation of India’s indigenously developed missile systems and defence technologies was particularly impressive and eye-opening. It gave us a deeper appreciation of the strategic efforts and innovations, shaping our nation’s security landscape.
It was truly inspiring to learn about the remarkable contributions of our very own Shri Manohar Parrikar Ji, one of India’s finest Defence Ministers. The video by SSS Defence, Bangalore, was a heartfelt and fitting tribute to his legacy.
Among the various post-independence revolutions, the defence revolution stands out as the most crucial — especially for a nation like ours, sharing borders with hostile neighbours and constantly facing security challenges.
We learnt about our first Indian-made submarine programmes like the INS Arihant Class which can carry nuclear capable ballistic missiles. We also learnt about Project 75I which will build advanced submarines with strategic partnership, reducing India’s foreign dependence.
Mr. Unnithan explained about the manufacturing of supersonic cruise missiles like BrahMos, jointly developed with Russia, which undid India’s original sin of having only ballistic missiles and not cruise missiles.
We learned about the spiral development of the BrahMos missile, which evolved through multiple refining iterations and can now be launched from land, sea, and air. We heard about the Marut programme which produced India’s first indigenous Fighter Jet and also laid the foundation for India’s aerospace industry and paved the way for future indigenous programmes such as the LCA Tejas.
Additionally, we explored the use of drones and swarm drones, guided either by trailing cables or wireless signals, in critical roles such as border surveillance and coastal security.
However, a major drawback in developing indigenous missiles remains our continued reliance on foreign engines due to our inability to produce them domestically and limited budget allocation.
Mr. Unnithan rightly said, “India being a peaceful country we should not allow our enemies to take a piece of us”. Thus India has made significant strides in developing its own missile system under the “Make in India” initiative which aims to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing with a potential for export to other countries.
The institute thanked Mr. Unnithan for sharing his invaluable wisdom and time that left a lasting impression and inspired many to stay better informed and engaged with issues of national concern.
The students were grateful to Mr. Vyankatesh Prabhudesai Sir, for organising the enriching session and for the opportunity to engage with such a distinguished journalist and defence analyst. Interactive Sessions like these help students understand the importance of sharing ideas and learning from experienced mentors to further their academic growth.
By
Joshua Dsa