Aero India provides an ideal window of opportunity to firms abroad to not only network with Indian industry, but also for the Indian companies to benefit from the expertise in research and development.

India is now emerging as the third largest defence spender in the world after the United States and China with an estimated $100 billion ( Rs. 5,00,000 crore) worth of acquisitions lined up the for next five years. It is little wonder therefore that Aero India draws to the venue the global aerospace and defence industry. Since the air show in 2011, India has gone in for a number of bigticket purchases with some deals already concluded and others in the process. A major success has been the procurement of ten C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft from Boeing with the possibility of additional six aircraft in due course. Contracts in respect of platforms such as the 22 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, both from Boeing, in preference over Russian contenders, are expected to be finalised soon. But perhaps the largest single defence tender expected to be finalised will be the order for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) for which the Rafale has been selected. The other important deal in the offing is for six A330 MRTT from Airbus Military.

A major spin-off of Aero India is that it provides the aerospace industry in the private sector in India the opportunity to explore routes to high-end technology. Also, business opportunities of Rs. 14,000 crore have already been generated for the private sector. In this issue of SP’s Aviation, apart from a preview of the air show, Air Marshal (Retd) Anil Chopra traces the evolution of Indo-US relationship. He also chronicles the bonding of the IAF with Dassault, culminating in the selection of the Rafale. Air Marshal (Retd) N. Menon describes the uninspiring state of the trainer fleet in the IAF and the inability of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to provide effective solutions, compelling the IAF to procure even basic training aircraft from abroad. Our Senior Editor Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey who visited Airbus Military, in his report, catalogues the tactical airlift solutions that Airbus Military has on offer.

On the civil aviation front, R. Chandrakanth reviews the state of the civil aviation industry in India and the opportunities that lie ahead. Incidentally, the Business Aircraft Operators’ Association is engaged in a legal battle with the regulatory authorities to safeguard members from the onslaught of exhorbitant airport charges. Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha looks at the prospects for the growth of regional aviation in the country.

All these apart from the regular features in this special issue. Do visit us at Aero India 2013, Hall B: 4.18. Happy Landings!