Aero India show attracts 146 companies

New Delhi, Jan 27: A record 146 companies will participate in the fifth Aero India 2005 to be held in Bangalore next month. Although the much-admired F-16 aircraft will not be flown, let alone displayed, there will be new attractions like a retail village selling momentos, handicrafts and artefacts catering to visitors from across the globe.

Talking to FE, Squadron Leader Rajesh Dhingra, joint director, Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO) said, “the number of Indian companies participating in this year’s show has gone up almost 100% as compared to the previous show, when there were just 76 participants.”

He said that this is testimony to the opportunities that exhibitors sense in an event of this kind, and its credibility and attractiveness.

Among the participants are Indian Space and Research Organisation, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Samtel, BAe-HAL Software Ltd, Titan Industries, Saras Technologies Pvt Ltd, Deccan Aviation Pvt Ltd, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Barracuda Camouflage (P) Ltd and Bijal Petroleum Equipment Corporation.

Aircraft of Lockheed Martin such as the PC3 Orion and the C130 Hercules will be on display and will take part in the flying demonstrations. Sources told FE that F-15 fighters belonging to the US Department of Defence will be on display.

Currently, the F-16 is pitted against the Russian MiG-29 MRCA, the latest version of the MiG-29, the SAAB Grippen and the Mirage-2000 for a share of the estimated $9 billion order to buy 126 fighter planes for the Indian Air Force (IAF).