Aero India 2017: Grand aviation show to kick off with fewer jets

Bengaluru: The 11th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition — Aero India 2017 – marked by multi-million dollar deals   opens at the Air Force Station at Yelahanka here on Tuesday, albeit with fewer participants and aircraft in comparison to 2015, although the scale down is not being attributed to the speculated shift of venue to Goa.

Set to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, with Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and Air Force Chief B S Dhanoa in attendance, the five-day event organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO), draws top defence companies from the US, Russia and Europe.

This year 72 aircraft will be on display in comparison to 100 in 2015. Some 549 companies out of which 270 are from India will participate in contrast to 644 companies in the previous shows. There are 23 countries, which are participating in the show and delegations from 60 other countries will be present to look at their own defence requirements.

“The participation of companies and aircrafts is 10 to 15 per cent lower than the 2015 edition of ‘Aero India’,” said Air Marshal (retd) Philip Rajkumar.      

“The Air Force has already placed orders for its requirements and the only window of business is for the procurement of 200 single engine combat fighter jets for which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already sent a request (of information ) to the US aerospace major Lockheed Martin for F16 and the Swedish aerospace giant Saab for Gripen E fighters. The two aircrafts will prominently be on display,” he said. Air Marshal (retd) B.K. Pandey told Deccan Chronicle that though this year’s ‘Aero India’ show will see less participation of the international aerospace giants because of the already “sealed deals” by the IAF, the focus will be on business opportunities with the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ campaign.” The IAF, he said, had already placed orders for 15 Chinook helicopters (heavy weight and transport helicopters), 22 Apache (most lethal attack) choppers with the US aerospace major Boeing and 200 KA 226 (light utility) helicopters with the Russian aerospace giant Kamov. “The requirement is now for single engine fighter aircrafts for which F16 and Gripen E are being considered,” he said. President of Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry M.C. Dinesh said that all slots for the air show are full and the space for the 549 companies has been booked much in advance. “Space has also been allotted to the host State (Karnataka) to facilitate the Defence MSMEs, which are prominent defence vendors and stand to gain under the ‘Make in India’ campaign,” added Mr. Dinesh.

On show

• State run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said its key indigenous products like HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft), first indigenously upgraded Hawk Mk132, named as Hawk-i, Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) will fly at the Aeroshow.
• India's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System will be inducted on the first day of Aero India, during which LCA Tejas will be demonstrated for potential customers, where people from both within and outside the country after the due clearance will fly in a trainer as co-passenger.
• Both trainer versions of Tejas PV5 and PV6 can be seen during the event. Aero India 2017 will also mark a special moment for Surya Kiran Aerobatics team of the Indian Air Force as they will mark their 500th public display since formation in 1996

Companies participating: 549 
Indian: 270     
Foreign: 279
About 200,000 business visitors will attend the show in which 72 aircraft will be participating.

The Chinese are coming!
A five-member Chinese delegation from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will be attending the show for the first time. Air Force officials had earlier said that, in total, 65 delegates comprising Ministers of Defence, Service Chiefs and Heads of Department from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, USA and Uzbekistan are expected to visit the event. Elaborate security and traffic management arrangements have been made by the city police for the smooth conduct of the event.

US sends high-level team
This year, the United States is a leading contributor to Aero India 2017. As a testament to the strategic partnership between the US and India, the US government has dispatched a high-level delegation to India. The US government delegation includes MaryKay Carlson, Chargé d'Affaires of the US Mission to India, Beth McCormick, Director for the Defense Technology Security Administration, Heidi H. Grant, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Keith Webster, Director, International Cooperation at Office of the Secretary of Defense, Robert Moore, Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Major General Abel Barrientes, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Vice Commander, Pacific Air Force, Karen Williams, Senior Advisor, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State; and Dr. Azar Shahood Ali, Chief Scientist, Pacific Air Forces headquarters.

US assets at Aero India this year include F-16C Fighting Falcons, a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and a C-130J Super Hercules transport. A Pacific Air Forces F-16 demonstration team will showcase the capability of one of the U.S. Air Force's leading fighters. A combined India-US parachute demonstration is also planned.

Over 20 US companies are participating in Aero India, 17 with exhibits in the US Partnership Pavilion.