Aero India 2011: Eyeing mega deal,contenders spread their wings

The eighth version of Aero India 2011,kicked off on Wednesday at the Yelahanka Air Force station in Bangalore in a spectacular show with F/A 18 Superhornet.

The eighth version of Aero India 2011,kicked off on Wednesday at the Yelahanka Air Force station in Bangalore in a spectacular show with F/A 18 Superhornet,Dassault Rafale,Eurofighter Typhoon,F 16 and the Gripen five of the six contenders for Indias US$10-billion Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal putting up a grand display of aerial superpower. Mig 35,the sixth contender,was not seen performing.

This edition of Aero India is important in the backdrop of the 126 MMRCA deal and the top six contenders vying for the deal are flexing their muscles going out of the way to ensure that their product is noticed and marketed well to the Indian decision makers.

This is the biggest show for us this year even bigger than Paris or Central Europe shows. It is not always that we bring five of our aircraft at a show, said Joanna Sjolander,in-country director,Saab Gripen,who have for this edition of the show brought three Gripen aircraft along with two commercial planes that include Saab 2000 and 340.

The case is no different with Eurofighter Typhoon who have a delegation of 10 that includes UK defence equipment minister and high commissioner amongst other officials. We have three of our aircraft on display. We are here to assure maximum technology transfer to India and are hoping that India joins the group of Eurofighter countries creating a win-win situation for both of us, said Peter Luff,defence equipment minister,UK.

Earlier,after a formal inauguration of the show by Defence Minister A K Antony,Indian Air Forces (IAF) aerobatic team Surya Kiran put up a colourful performance followed by a close formation by indigenous LCA Tejas and three Sukhoi 30 MKI in their unique Trishul formation.

Indias democratic set up along with fast growing economic development have ensured the world that it can play a responsible stabilising role in the region. Indias aero sector is growing at a rapid pace and it is an encouraging development. We are encouraging public and private sector companies and are working on fine tuning the Defence Procurement Policy to make it more efficient and transparent. Current defence expenditure 2.5 per cent of its GDP is consistent with our projected security requirements and is bound to increase over the next two decades, Antony said.

Also present on the occasion were Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa,Air Chief Marshal P V Naik,Minister of State for Defence A Pallam Raju and Defence Production Secretary Raj Kumar.