Asia’s biggest aviation show Aero India 2017 kicked off at the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Yelahanka base in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The eleventh edition of five-day aerospace and defence event saw some thrilling aerobatic displays by fighter jets including the indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft.
As many as 549 companies are participating this year with 53 fighter aircraft on display.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who inaugurated the Aero Show, said India requires approximately 400 fighter jets and 800-1,000 helicopters, all of which can be manufactured within the country with foreign partners.
The air display began with Mi-17 helicopters trooping in the Indian tricolour, Indian Air Force and Aero India flags. Fighter jets like Sweden’s SAAB Gripen, India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, American F-16 Falcon and the French Rafale tore through the sky and displayed a host of aerobatic manoeuvres.
The Indian Air Force also inducted its first indigenously developed airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system.
After having skipped two editions of Aero India, the Surya Kiran Aerobatics team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force was back on display with a new jet-powered advanced Hawk aircraft and performed the 500th public display since its formation in 1996.
Deals Up For Grabs
Another reason that makes Aero India 2017 special is that this time there are multi-billion dollars worth deals up for grabs.
Last year, India’s defence ministry floated a competitive bid for single-engine fighter jets to be made in India and has already issued a Request for Information. Saab of Sweden with its Gripen E and Lockheed Martin of the US with its F-16s are the two big contenders for the order, though the new US administration may cause some roadblocks for Lockheed Martin.
Separately, the Indian Navy has also floated a tender to supply and produce 57 twin engine carrier borne fighters, for which Boeing has expressed interest to participate with its F-18 twin engine planes.
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