Telamgama govt to set up defence museum

The Telangana government has urged Defence authorities to provide a war flight and a submarine to make them into a museum in the city.

State Tourism and Culture Secretary B Venkatesham has written to the defence authorities in this regard to showcase them to the people of Hyderabad and tourists visiting the state.

State Tourism Development Corporation MD Manohar has approached DRDO ((Defence Research and Development Organisation) Chairman Satheesh Reddy to provide a war flight Tupolev-TU 142 M, the anti-submarine warfare aircraft, to make it a museum, an official release said.

We are seeking a war flight submarine also. In principle, they have agreed for both," Manohar told PTI Saturday.

According to the release, a total of eight Tupolev-142 Ms were inducted into the navy.

The Soviet-era aircraft, known as one of the most formidable air-borne reconnaissance platforms around the world, were part of all major naval exercises and operations of the Indian Navy since its induction in 1988.

Two of them were re-assembled at Visakhapatnam and West Bengal respectively.

Among the rest of the aircraft, the navy and defence had agreed to provide one unused aircraft submarine and missiles to Telangana.

The objective is to promote knowledge among the citizens of Hyderabad on the activities of the Indian navy and its service to the nation, it said.

The Telangana government is planning to demonstrate various defence-related products at the museum in coordination with the DRDO to encourage youngsters to join the defence services, it said.

Further, it is also contemplated to establish a defence museum wherein defence-related labs and missiles will be exhibited in collaboration with DRDO, the release added.