Bengaluru: The country’s premier air show – Aero India 2017, likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14 in the city, will see participation from 23 countries. If the previous air shows were about the MMRCA deal, this year the focus will be on single engine aircrafts as the Indian government hopes to manufacture one indigenously.
SAAB’s Gripen-E and the Lockheed Martin F-16 will inevitably be keenly watched with India recently issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for a single engine fighter to be manufactured in the country .
Sweden’s SAAB will be displaying its Gripen E , the latest offering from its stable. It claims the single engine aircraft is the ultimate development of its Gripen NG project. A 4.5 generation aircraft that combines exceptional performance with BVR capability, the Gripen is said to be cost efficient as well. SAAB will also offer the Sea Gripen, the maritime variant, for the Indian Navy.
Commenting on Aero India, SAAB chairman and managing director, Jan Widerstrom admitted that its presence at the show was related to “its commitment to contributing to India’s ambition to build a self- reliant indigenous defence industry of global standards.”
The other aircraft that will be closely watched is the Lockheed Martin F-16. The company is offering a fully customised F-16 version for the Indian Air Force that will come equipped with either an APG-70 or an APG-80 - AESA Radar.
Former Chief of Air Staff, Fali Major revealed deals had been signed for Chinook and Apache helicopters and a C-130 Hercules transport plane had been purchased. “We are looking forward to seeing these aircraft being displayed. The RFI for single engine fighter planes to replace the MiG-21s has been issued and we should see some movement on that,” he added.
Meanwhile, spectators at the show are in for a treat as the internationally renowned Surya Kiran team, dismantled six years ago after the Indian Air Force decided there was a shortage of training aircraft, is set to return with a bang. The team now flies Hawk aircraft in place of the vintage Kiran Mk-II aircraft.
- Starting from February 8, the Kempegowda International Airport is set to shut operations at certain times to help military aircraft from Yelahanka practice without hindrance for the aero show. Also, KIAL will partially shut operations to ensure that participating aircraft can have the airspace for themselves. Meanwhile,the BBMP has asked meat stalls near Yelahanka to stay shut for the duration of the event.
- Over 25,000 stalls at Aero India will give visitors a glimpse of the latest warfare technologies that companies are offering the world over. While companies from close to 23 countries are slated to participate in India’s premier air show this year, Aero India 2015 saw participation from exhibitors from 33 countries. In all 644 companies (326 overseas and 318 domestic) and 46 overseas delegations were accommodated over a gross exhibition area of 108,250 sqms, that was nearly 44 per cent bigger than the previous edition of 2013. The 2017 edition is the biggest yet.
- The traffic police is making suitable arrangements to divert traffic owing to Aero India-2017 that will be held from February 14 to 18 at the Indian Air Force Centre in Yelahanka. But the BMTC and KIAL services will operate as usual without any route deviation.
SAAB plans aerospace firm in India
Swedish aerospace and defence major, SAAB, plans to set up Indian Aerospace Company along with a strategic partner in India to roll out a host of military products, including a ‘smart’ Gripen E fighter jet and next generation SRSAM (short range surface-to-air missiles), some of which will be displayed at Aero India 2017.
The proposed entity, on the lines of the one established in Sweden, will help the country evolve as a major hub for design and production of aerospace and military projects for the next 100 years for the armed forces as well as for the global market. “It’s not simply moving an assembly line, but building development capability, produce, support and innovate in India,” says Mr Jan Widerstrom, Chairman & Managing Director, SAAB India Technologies, adding that a delegation of representatives of the Swedish government would arrive in New Delhi next week for discussions with officials of the Union government.
He said the location for this new entity would be decided after picking the strategic partner and due approvals by the Union government.
A single-seater Gripen E fighter, known as a ‘smart’ fighter because of the high percentage of computing capability as well as the AESA radar, will demonstrate its prowess while the two-seater trainer variant will be on static display at the air show. Gripen E will be more advanced than the version which participated in the field trials carried out for six fighter jets short-listed for the MMRCA contract.
Mr Jan Widerstrom said Gripen E as well as its naval variant, Gripen Maritime, have been offered to the armed forces. “India needs numbers, regardless of the cost and capability. I believe that’s why they (officials) are looking at Gripen E which is also affordable when compared with F-16, F/A-18, Rafale, Typhoon, or the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter). Aero India offers a great venue for carrying forward our discussions, and showcasing our technology to various stakeholders,’ he added. In addition to Gripen E, SAAB will showcase a very short range, laser guided next generation air defence system which cannot be jammed by electronic warfare systems, and an all-weather SRSAM (short range surface-to-air missile), also jam-resistant missile system which could target bombers.
