India plays host to the bigwigs of the global defence industry out to strut their wares and woo their prized customer. We bring you all the buzz surrounding Aero India 2009.

India is shopping. And the world’s largest defence manufacturers are out to woo their prized customer, eyes glued to the swelling pie of budgetary allocation. Be it the massive $10 billion (Rs 49,000 crore) deal for Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) or the huge inventory of helicopters the armed forces are looking to pick from the foreign defence market at a cost running into some staggering figures, lure of the lucre and the rich bargains to be struck have fuelled the race like never before.

Ending months of anticipation, deliberation and preparation, the curtains have at last gone up on the seventh chapter of Aero India. Cynosure of defence manufacturers across the globe, from February 11 to 15, India plays host to the bigwigs—and what a queue up it’s promising to be! Drawn to the steadily lengthening shopping list, the event has inexorably attracted a horde of celebrated players from the industry worldwide. Aero India 2009 is expected to provide an insight into the latest developments and technologies in military and civil aviation, including systems and sub-systems. A range of military and civil aircraft will be participating in flying and static display.

Defying the gloom and global recession, around 550 companies from 50 different countries, including India, are showcasing their products and services in the show. At the forefront are companies from Germany and France with 31 each. Following close on their heels are UK (26), Russia (24), the US (22), Italy (19), Belgium (17), Israel (11) and Australia (10). Over 100 aircraft—military and civil, as also UAVs—are expected to take part in flying and static display.

Capturing all the buzz surrounding this prestigious airshow, this Aero India 2009 special edition of SP’s Aviation deliberates on the modernisation thrust of the IAF. The present leadership staunchly believes the IAF is not a tactical force but a full-fledged strategic aerospace power. However, while the IAF may have the right intentions, it has to travel a long distance and achieve many modernisation milestones to acquire the capabilities it aspires for.

That said, these are exciting times for the armed forces and the Indian defence industry. The team at SP’s heartily congratulates the event organisers—the Ministry of Defence and the Confederation of Indian Industry—for their immense effort to make this airshow a resounding success.
Come, soak in the power and the promise.