NAGPUR/NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Friday that despite the changing nature of warfare and the emergence of new-age security threats, “conventional military capabilities and means are still as relevant as they were in 1947”, making a strong military-industrial base essential for the country’s security.He made the remark while performing bhoomi pujan for a 10,000-tonne aluminium extrusion press here. Rajnath said the new facility will support the manufacture of large and complex aluminium alloy profiles required for defence systems and platforms, aerospace and aviation structures. The project will help reduce dependence on imports of critical aluminium extrusions, he said. “This extrusion press addresses a crucial need. Modern fighter jets, missiles, and advanced space programmes require metals that are lightweight and strong, capable of withstanding even the most extreme conditions,” he said. The proposed plant will supply high-grade aluminium that would not only be used in manufacturing of fighter planes by HAL, but would also cater to the PSUs – Mazagon Docks, Bharat Dynamics and even Isro.