Participating first time in the 11th edition of Aero India a premier aero show in Asia which was kick-started to a spectacle of metal birds in the Bengaluru skies on Tuesday the Chinese delegation feels they need good relationship with the people of India and its defence forces.
Even though hesitant but in a brief chat with The Pioneer Major General Wang Qiang of People’s liberation Army Air Force (PlAAF),said he wants good relations with India and its defence forces. He said they can’t’ brief the media as per the guidelines was escorted by an Indian Air Force officer visited Indian pavilions and US pavilions during their stay at Yelahanka airbase. He also said they want to understand Indian aviation sector and the airshow which has a large participation of global majors in aviation sector.
The Chinese team headed by Major General Wang Qiang. Colonel Gao Zhikuan, Col Huang Xinyang, lt Col Jiang Jiaji and Maj li Yiu.
The participation of the top Chinese delegation is significant considering that China is helping Pakistan build up its Air Force with both the countries jointly developing the Joint Fighter (JF)-17 Thunder.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said India desired good ties its neighbours including Pakistan and China.
“We wish to have a good relationship with Pakistan and China. No reasons why we should keep fighting with them,” Parrikar said. India wanted peace with both Pakistan and China, he added.
Asked about the border situation, the Minister said: “Can any country have a problem if there is peace in the neighbourhoodIJ Keeping calm does not mean you should not be prepared.” Parrikar was speaking to the media on the sidelines of Aero India 2017 here.
He also said India requires approximately 400 fighter jets and between 800 to 1,000 helicopters, production for which can be addressed by the domestic market. This would include joint venture partnerships between strategic Indian defence players and foreign entities.
Parrikar said government has approved Rs 1,359 crore of setting up of an additional lCA production line, work on which will start in the next three months.
“Increasing production on a particular IDDM (Indigenously Designed , Developed and Manufactured) product can generate a lot of business for the private sector,” adds Parrikar.
Clearing the air on allowing 100 per cent foreign capital in the defence sector among international defence firms present in large numbers at the 11th edition of Aero India, Manohar Parrikar said the government will allow 100 per cent foreign capital only when the investing company proposes to produce a product in which the country does not possess expertise.
“We are not going to allow FDI in the sector irrationally. We will do it rationally. Wherever we have competition we will not buy that from outside. Why should I allow 100 per cent foreign investment in a product which we are already makingIJ Why should I give 100 per cent FDI where we are competingIJ It will be irrational move. But the route is open. I will definitely consider proposals where we do not have expertise. At least under ‘Make in India’ you will get employment, local indegenous development,” he said.
On navy rejecting lCA Tejas he said “The project is thoroughly supported by the Navy. The lCA expansion does have 25 per cent financial component coming from the Navy, 25 per cent from the Air Force and 50 per cent by HAl … What Navy wants is a different variety and they think that two-engine will be a better version. If we proceed with what Navy wants, then the lCA Navy version will have to be successfully tested, to which the Navy has agreed.
The first version of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the inaugural day of Aero India-2017, Bengaluru’s air show, here on Tuesday.
The AEW&CS is capable of detecting and tracking, identifying and classifying threats, guidance and interception control, display of the air situation picture and multi-sensor data integration. eom/blr