AERO India-2015: A Preview

Bolstering “Make in India” theme in defence manufacturing -- Aero India-2015 -- the 10th international edition of the aerospace and aviation exhibition at Bengaluru from February 18-22, will also include sectors like defence manufacturing and airport infrastructure besides aerospace, defence and civil aviation. Describing the biennial event organized by Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO) under the aegis of Ministry of Defence as being one of the largest premium airshows in Asia, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri G Mohan Kumar outlined the impetus of the “Make in India” initiative during the forthcoming edition of the event. “We want to set ‘Make in India’ as the major theme of the exhibition and see ‘Make in India’ progress in the defence sector also,” Secretary (DP) Shri Kumar said at a curtain raiser for Aero India 2015 in New Delhi, today. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the premium air show. Besides 54 ministerial and other high-level delegations from several countries that are slated to attend the inaugural event, the exhibition will also see participation by over 600 companies, including 295 Indian and 328 foreign companies. With 64 companies, USA is the leading participant in the exhibition among the 33 other countries participating. Others who are fielding more than 15 companies include France (58), UK (48), Russia (41), Israel (25) and Germany (17). The pre-eminence of the exposition has grown manifold since the inaugural exhibition in 1996. Around 300 CEOs from Indian and foreign industries are expected to attend the event. Business-to-business (B2B) and round-table meetings of Indian companies with those of Israel, UK and Poland will also be held at the event. Heads and senior representatives from the Indian Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces besides Service Chiefs from nine foreign countries are also among those attending the event. For the first time few states who want to be partners in defence production and are keen to set up defence-related industry and SEZz are also participating in the exhibition. These include Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. A “Make in India” Defence Manufacturing Investors Summit and Global CEOs Conference to be chaired by Defence Minister is also being held for the first time during the air show. Speakers from leading Indian Defence Industries including TATA, Mahindra, L&T, Adani, Bharat Forge and Presidents’ of leading Indian Business Chambers (CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHD) will also share their vision on defence manufacturing in India. Role of cyber security in defence, aerospace and civil aviation, public-private partnership, integrating Indian aerospace industry into a global supply chain, creation of infrastructure and enhancing regional-rural connectivity, empowering and incentivizing Indian MSMEs in defence and aerospace sectors, using defence offsets to create a vibrant domestic defence industrial base are among some of the topics to be featured at the CII, FICCI and PHD held airshow seminars. Even as the number of business visitors is expected to rise by nearly 50 per cent from the last edition to 1,50,000 this year, the air show is invariably a huge attraction for aviation aficionados who throng to the event to witness the static and air display by various aircraft including fighter, transport, helicopter and aerobatic display teams. While the number of aircraft participating in static and air displays is tentatively 72, scintillating and enthralling displays by Indian Air Force Sarang Team, air display teams from Sweden, UK, Czech Republic and open sky jump by USA Special Forces are among the major attractions at Aero India-2015. Among the foreign military aircraft that will be seen at the airshow include F-15C Eagle, Lockheed F-16C, Boeing KC-135, Boeing C-17 A Globemaster III, Boeing P-8A Posedon, Rafale Dassault and Emb-145 I. The foreign civil aircraft participation includes PC-12 NG, Falcon 2000, Phenom 100E, Boeing B 75, Boeing A 75, Viking, Catwalk, WASP, RRJ 95, EMB 505, Bell 407 GX Helicopter, King Air 350 ER, 19-seater Turbo Prop AI Industry, Z Lin Z 50 LX, Oma Sud Sky Car, Falcon 7 X and Dornier 228-New Gen