The Centre for Air Power Studies conducted the 20th Subroto Mukerjee Seminar at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi today. The theme of the seminar was "India & the Global South: Challenges and Opportunities." Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), graced the event and delivered the inaugural address.

During his talk, the CAS emphasised India's proactive role in raising the concerns of the countries of Global South. He spoke on the relevance of air power and the need for IAF to act as a catalyst for progress, fostering strategic partnerships and contributing to the collective advancement of the Global South.

IAF's increased footprint during regular training engagements with partner nations has resulted in sharing of best practices in operations and maintenance. He also mentioned the role played by Indian Military Advisory Teams and courses offered through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation program, which had paved the way for increased cooperation by conducting training for more than 200,000 officials in both the civil and defence sector.

The CAS brought out that in the past nine years, IAF had trained more than 5000 foreign trainees from countries of the Global South. He also added that indigenous aerospace platforms such as LCA, LCH, Akash Missile systems and radars offer competitive and reliable options for air forces of the Global South, boosting India's economic and technological clout.

He reiterated IAF's role in international HADR operations, which had further strengthened India's leadership role in the Global South.

The event also included the launch of two books. "Indian Air Power: Contemporary and Future Dynamics" authored by Air Marshal (Dr) Diptendu Choudhury (Retd) and "Aeroengine Fundamentals and Landscape in India: A Way Forward" authored by Air Vice Marshal Suresh Singh.