Amidst hard push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Make in India products in the defence sector, curtains were drawn on the 10th edition of five-day aerial extravaganza Aero India 2015 at the Yelahanka airbase on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Sunday. The cheering of over a lakh people bid goodbye to the metal birds which kept them awed in its five-day plane carnival, the biggest air show in Asia.
Even though it is difficult to assess the outcome of the business aspect of this show, it was interesting to see the large contingent of American presence in tune with Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India, a concept floated to boost Indian defence manufacturing. As many as 64 US companies including lockheed Martin, Boeing, Honeywell, Esterline, Bell, GE Aviation, and Sikorsky took part in the Aero India 2015. US Ambassador to India, Richard Rahul Verma opened the US Pavilion at the Aero India, calling the exhibits “the best of US aviation and defence technology”.
The US aircraft were on display include F-15C Eagles, F-16C Fighting Falcons, KC-135 tanker, C-17 Globe master III, and P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. In tune with the Make in India concept, Bengaluru skies dazzled with somersaults and stunts by the metal birds. Breitling Wingwalkers (UK), Scandinavian Air Show, Flying Bulls from Czech Republic and Yakovlevs formation display team from UK as well as the Indian Air Force’s ‘Sarang’ team performed jaw dropping stunts. Rafale fighters of French giant Dassault, F16, C-17 gloabmaster 11 also performed aerial tricks.
As part of the desi dynamics, HAl made light Combat Helicopter and lCA Tejas performed to enthrall the audience. 49 countries with over 169 delegations, 328 foreign companies and 295 Indian companies took part in Aero India 2015. Barring a mid-air collision between Red Bull members, which was handled with a very high degree of professionalism with no injury to anyone on ground or air, aerial displays continued to enthrall audiences till the end.
French Def Min to meet Parrikar
Just the day after the close of Aero India 2015, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves le Drian will arrive in New Delhi to meet his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar. He will hold a fresh round of talks with Parrikar just two months after they met and decided to “fast-track” the contract negotiations for the nearly USD 10-billion deal for Rafale fighter jets. Parrikar had said at the Aero India that he would not comment on the Rafale deal as the Contract Negotiations Committee was discussing it. Air Chief Arup Raha had stressed on the need to have a Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, for which Rafale was shortlisted. It is interesting that the French Defence Minister is visiting India before Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France in a few months’ time.