Recognising that the Indian defence market is the biggest globally, companies from all over the world have descended at the air base in an effort to forge industrial partnerships and joint ventures with the Indian defence industry and the Armed Forces. According to market analysts the government is expected to spend around $100 billion on modernisation of the Armed Forces over the next five years.
This year?s event will be the largest edition of the show since it started in 1998. The number of exhibitors is up from 581 last year to 675 this year but the real jump is in the number of business visitors that is expected to double to 70,000. The companies are also making a beeline to impress the delegates coming from neighbourhing nations, including Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia.
While this is expected to take centre-stage at Aero India 2011, the intensifying contest for winning India?s $10-billion contract to procure 126 medium-weight multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCAs) will undoubtedly be the second most important issue in focus.
For the first time, (as reported by FE earlier), five out of six contenders for the contract are participating at an Aero India show ? Boeing?s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin?s F-16 Super Viper (both from USA), Dassault?s Rafale (French), EADS?s Eurofighter Typhoon (European Union?s) and SAAB?s Grippen (Swedish).
The contest between these six, this time round, will be there for all to see with these aircraft displaying their skills and manoeuvrability to win the hearts of the Indian Air Force and ministry of defence experts who are expected to place a finger on one of them for procurement. The IAF is procuring 126 MMRCAs to bolster its depleting squadron strength. The IAF squadron strength is at present below the sanctioned strength ? just 34 squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of thirty-nine-and-a-half.
The eighth biennial Aero India 2011 aerospace exhibition is organised by the department of defence production, ministry of defence, where the US?s participation will be the largest and most impressive display of American high-technology systems ever brought to India, including participation by more than 20 US defence companies. The Aero India exhibition will showcase some of the best airplanes, weapons systems, and military technology in the world and underscore America?s determination to become India?s most important defense and aviation partner.
The event which will be formally inaugurated on Wednesday, will see the largest US participation to date. Top of the line aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Hercules (recently procured by India) and KC-135 Stratotanker will be on display and participate in numerous flight demonstrations.
British minister for defence equipment support and technology Peter Luff is leading a large defence and business delegation, where the British firms will showcase their cutting edge technology in the defence, aviation and security sectors.
?Forging industrial partnerships and joint ventures between our defence industries, air force and defence scientists and Indian counterparts will be high on our agenda during the visit to Aero India, a world class show and best in the region,? Luff said in a statement.
US is closely followed by Russians who will be exhibiting over 80 types of weaponry. Russia will be represented by 35 companies, including MiG , Sukhoi, Almaz-Antei and Engineering Design Bureau. Russia will be pitching for MiG-35 and Su-35 fighter jets, the Yak-130 combat trainer, two versions of Il-76MD transport plane (with different engines), the Il-78MK aerial tanker and MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB naval fighters.
Another highlight for the Russian exhibits will be the Be-200 amphibious aircraft, in fray for the six amphibious aircraft to be acquired by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The plane which can take off from both land and water could be used in a wide variety of roles, from maritime reconnaissance and rescue to firefighting.
According to European helicopter manufacturers, ?Eurocopter will make publicly debut AS-550C3 Fennec helicopter, which should soon replace the Chetaks and Cheetahes as reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft for the fleet of the Indian Armed Forces.