The ninth edition of Defexpo India, an event of significance for both the Indian as well as the global defence industry, is being held this year at Goa for the first time. The previous editions were held at the India International Trade Fair grounds Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Dedicated to showcasing land, naval and internal homeland security systems, Defexpo India has maintained a steady growth trajectory over the years and has been receiving overwhelming international support with each edition. Defexpo India 2016 will provide an opportunity to all the exhibitors to showcase their latest products as well as their cutting-edge technologies.

The event will also provide opportunities to explore the market and business potential for mutual benefit. One factor that is expected to provide added impetus to the business environment would be the investment opportunities generated in India following the launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. We have the ‘Make in India’/Invest India team of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on behalf of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman, responding to our queries on how the Ministry is facilitating the Prime Minister’s major initiative.

Friday, March 18, this year will go down in the history of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a Red Letter Day. It was on this day that the IAF staged a demonstration of its operational capability and firepower at the firing and test range of Pokhran in Rajasthan. Designated as Iron Fist 2016, the air exercise was witnessed by Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Modi as well as other dignitaries. This issue of SP’s Aviation carries a detailed review of Exercise Iron Fist 2016 by Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd).

After years of persistent effort to procure light utility helicopters for the Indian Army and the IAF to replace the obsolescent fleets of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel. Plans for the licensed production of 200 of the Russian Kamov Ka-226T light helicopters by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have crystallised and a new helicopter manufacturing facility at Tumukuru is coming up. But the Indian armed forces would need many more rotarywing platforms. In this issue of SP’s Aviation, Joseph Noronha reviews the long-term requirement of the Indian armed forces for military helicopters and assesses the potential for indigenous production to meet with this demand. A study on similar lines also carried out by Noronha for the state of the assets of military transport aircraft and the issue of indigenous production capability.

On the civil aviation front, the just concluded India Aviation 2016 kept the momentum alive of the aviation industry which is agog with positive sentiments. A comprehensive report by R.Chandrakanth on how the aviation sector is going to unfold in the years to come has been captured in interviews with OEMs. ATR is working to enhance its fleet of regional aircraft in the country from the current level of 36 to around 60 to ensure the viability of their plans to establish MRO facility in the country. The regional aviation segment has been given a major push by the government and it is hoped that players will enter the fray, with the regional market so wide open. Similarly, the business aviation segment is also keen on engaging the government and this was made amply clear at the second BizAvIndia conference in Hyderabad. Business aviation is engaged in a battle of perception that business aircraft are only for the rich and famous, something that is a major impediment to the growth of this segment of the civil aviation industry.

All this and more apart from the regular features. Do visit us at Booth Number 10.5.5 in Hall Number 10 at Defexpo India 2016!