The synergies are falling in place, the momentum is there, the market is attractive, the mindsets are changing and India is on the threshold of taking centre stage

The arc lights are on the premier aerospace event in the region — Aero India International Air Show 2011 — happening in Bengaluru from February 9 to 13. Global majors in the defence and aerospace sectors; industry leaders; defence officials and others will be in the “aerospace city”, all in the bid to enhance defence capabilities and further business opportunities.

For us at SP Guide Publications, as the official media partner of Aero India 2011, it indeed is a matter of pride to be associated with the event as we strongly believe in ‘India Emerging’.

In this Special Edition, SP’s Aviation is focused on the humongous opportunities in combat aircraft, trainers, armaments, force-multipliers, business aviation, airlines, etc. The figures cast are mind-boggling — combat aircraft alone has prospects of nearly $80 billion (Rs. 3,60,000 crore) in about a decade’s time. The race for the huge pie is hotting up, not just within the country but from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who are landing here in droves. The UK delegation is being led by the Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, Peter Luff, who has affirmed that UK companies “are intent on forging long-lasting industrial partnerships and joint ventures with Indian companies.”

With regard to India’s defence capabilities, there is no gainsaying the fact that it urgently needs to be modernised and putting this in perspective is the former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal, S. Krishnaswamy, while the outgoing Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal N.V. Tyagi has talked about the Indian Air Force transforming itself from a tactical air force to an aerospace force with strategic capabilities. And there cannot be a more apt statement: “The more you train in peace, the less you bleed in war” by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja who has delved into the training aspects of the air warriors.

The Indian Government understands the urgency as can be seen from the investments being made in the defence sector and also the policies being adopted—the latest being the Defence Procurement Procedure 2011 and the Defence Production Policy, both of which have been liberalised to give boost to indigenisation, encourage the private sector and become self-reliant, moving away from defence equipment imports which is at a disturbingly high 70 per cent.

This has been acknowledged by the industry and the Chairman of the Indian aerospace behemoth the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Ashok Nayak in an exclusive interview. He has indicated that while HAL has begun the restructuring process to cater to the future, it is looking at increased partnership with the private players.

In sync, the civil aviation market too is in a thermal, attaining new records in passenger, freight and aircraft movements. With India Inc. prospering and the billionaire list growing, the business jet segment has all the reasons to cheer.

The synergies are falling in place, the momentum is there, the market is attractive, the mindsets are changing and India is on the threshold of taking centre stage.

Aero India is a window of opportunity and SP’s Aviation team wishes all participants a rewarding time at the show!