Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru on Sunday, where he greeted IAF officers and emphasized the increasing importance of aerospace medicine in light of rising air and space traffic.
Singh pointed out that space has become a critical domain in modern warfare, with India taking significant strides in mastering advanced technologies like anti-satellite capabilities. Additionally, India has emerged as the fastest-growing aviation market globally. He underscored the necessity for more research and development (R&D) in aerospace medicine, highlighting how advancements in this field would benefit various sectors.
“Aerospace medicine plays a crucial role in addressing challenges like microgravity, radiation, and isolation experienced in space. The field must be prepared to handle these complexities and future challenges,” he stated.
During his visit, the Defence Minister also inspected the Dynamic Flight Simulator, High-Performance Human Centrifuge used for High-G training of fighter pilots, and the Spatial Disorientation Simulator, which trains armed forces pilots to prevent spatial disorientation during flight.
Singh commended IAM’s role in enhancing self-reliance in the aerospace sector and its contributions to the design of key military aircraft, including the Advanced Light Helicopter, Light Combat Helicopter, and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The institute has also provided crucial input for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
He further emphasized the aerospace sector’s growing importance, stating it would play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047, particularly in technological advancements, national security, and economic growth. The sector is also expected to contribute significantly to space missions, satellite launches, and commercial space services.
Singh also launched the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Extramural Research Project on “Space Psychology: Selection and Behavioural Health Training of Astronauts & Astronaut Designates for Indian Space Missions.”
The Defence Minister was accompanied by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, and Director General Medical Services (Air) Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja during the visit. This marks the first visit by a Defence Minister to IAM in Bengaluru.