Spread over 75,000 square metres, Aero India 2011 brought together 675 companies including 295 from India and 380 from 29 countries around the world

Hailed as the premier Air Show in Asia, Aero India 2011, the eighth edition of the biennial event was held at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Yelahanka on the northern outskirts of Bengaluru. Having come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1996, this year’s extravaganza was bigger and better than those in the past. Participating in the expo spread over 75,000 square metres were 675 companies that included 295 from India and 380 from 29 countries around the world. Aero India 2009 which had witnessed participation by 592 companies, both domestic and foreign, had occupied only 45,000 square metres.

The countries that had elaborate pavilions for their aerospace companies were the US, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Israel, Italy and Russia. Of these, the aerospace majors of Britain, Germany, France, Russia and the US were accompanied by official delegations in their efforts at collaboration, partnership and joint ventures with the Indian aerospace industry. For the first time ever, the Chinese delegation participated in Aero India 2011. Considering China’s status as a major trading partner of India, an invitation was extended to it albeit at the last minute and the Chinese delegation was led by Ambassador Zhang Yan. Pakistan and Iran were among a few of the nations that did not participate.

At the expo, both domestic and international participating aerospace companies had on display the latest in aerospace technology and a wide range of products which included military aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, airliners, general aviation aircraft and business jets. Compared to 67 in Aero India 2009, this time there were 95 aircraft on display including 44 military and 51 civil. Practically all global aerospace majors were present at the expo along with the important players from the Indian aerospace industry both from the public and private sector. Also present were a large number of small and medium enterprises associated with the indigenous aerospace industry.

Inauguration Ceremony

Delivering the inaugural address at the opening ceremony, Chief Guest Defence Minister A.K. Antony reiterated the government’s commitment to rapid modernisation of the armed forces. “We are open to joint ventures, public-private partnerships and licenced production under transfer of technology (ToT) for the all-round development of the aerospace industry,” he said. Calling upon the global aerospace majors to partner with Indian aerospace companies, the Defence Minister said, “We have charted out a course to increase self-reliance in the defence sector by creating a strong industrial base in the country. The recently released Defence Production Policy spells out the blueprint of the roadmap that we intend to follow. We are encouraging our public and private sector industries to become active partners in this initiative.” He touched upon the recent changes in policy that would help facilitate discharge of offset obligations by foreign companies.

India—A Lucrative Market

Sponsored by the Defence Exhibition Organisation of the Ministry of Defence and managed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the international Air Show this year was propelled by the business potential of billions of dollars generated in the wake of the ongoing modernisation programme for the Indian armed forces.

The global aerospace industry was drawn to the Air Show by the combined market for defence equipment and commercial jets valued at $150 billion (Rs. 6,75,000 crore) and growing over the next three decades. Of this, the irresistible lure is the $11 billion (Rs. 50,000 crore) contract for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the process of selection of the vendor was in the final stage. In spite of the mood being upbeat amongst the contenders, a degree of anxiety was quite palpable. Apart from the MMRCA contract, other major acquisition programmes include six in-flight re-fuelling aircraft, 197 utility helicopters for the Indian Army and the IAF, 22 attack helicopters and a fleet of basic turboprop trainer aircraft for the IAF.

A Treat For The Public

In conformity with the age-old practice, there were spectacular daily displays of flying by a variety of aircraft dominated, as expected, by the contenders for the MMRCA contract namely the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen, Boeing F/A-18 E/F and the Lockheed Martin F-16IN Super Viper. Conspicuous by its absence was the Russian MiG-35, also a contender for the MMRCA contract. Amongst the Indian aircraft participating in the daily flying display were the Indian light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, the Sarang helicopter display team and the HAL-built LCA. A major attraction that overwhelmed the public was the Red Bull four aircraft privately-owned aerobatic team from the Czech Republic led by the 62 year old Radoslava Máchová. The Red Bulls performed spell-binding aerobatic manoeuvres on the Zlin-50 LX piston engine aircraft.