NEW DELHI: With an indigenously-developed howitzer gun booming for the first time in the ceremonial 21-gun salute during the Independence Day ceremony, PM Modi on Monday saluted the ongoing drive by the armed forces towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence production and acquisitions. “For the first time after 75 years, a Made-in-India cannon has saluted the tricolour from the Red Fort. Will there be any Indian who will not be inspired by this sound?” the PM said.
The home-grown 155mm/ 52 calibre advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS), developed by DRDO with production partners Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge, was used along with the British-origin guns traditionally fired till now for the ceremonial salute at the Red Fort.

“Today I want to congratulate the soldiers of my country from my heart. I salute the way Army jawans have shouldered this responsibility of self-reliance in an organised way and with courage. The soldier carries death in his hands. He stands firmly in the middle when there is no gap between death and life,” the PM said.
Modi also referred to the three “positive indigenisation” lists notified by the defence ministry, under which the imports of 310 defence products have been progressively banned, as well as the $375 million export of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines inked earlier this year.
“The resolution of our country is not small when the armed forces make a list and decide not to import over 300 defence products. In this resolution, I can see the seed of a bright future of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ that will convert this dream into a banyan tree. Salute! Salute! Salute to our military leadership,” he said.