2011, took off on a impressive
notetoday with global defence majors
eyeing lucrative deals and India
vowing to modernise its armed forces
to meet the challenge posed by 'violent disturbances' in the
neighbourhood. A two-hour flying display held the
centre-stage at Yelahanka Air Force
Station after defence minister AK
Antony declared open the five-day
biennial airshow, the biggest to date
with strong domestic and international participation. Antony said the event would further
enhance India's emergence as an
attractive market and a key
outsourcing hub for global aerospace
firms. He said India had always been a
votary of peace but "violent
disturbances" in its immediate and
extended neighbourhood posed
security challenges to it and the
region. "Our government is steadfast in its
resolve to meet any challenge. We are,
therefore, committed to ensure rapid
modernisation of our armed forces
and equip them with state-of-the-art
systems, equipment and platforms," he said. Antony also said India's defence
expenditure currently, 2.5% of its GDP,
was bound to increase over the next
two decades. The home-grown Light Combat
Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, which recently
obtained initial operational clearance
taking it a step closer to induction into
IAF, stole the show with breathtaking
"vertical loops" and mid-air manoeuvres. The fly-past took off with Mi-8
formation flying with the Indian
tricolour along with the flags of Indian
Air Force and Defence Research and
Development Organisation as India
and participating nations demonstrated their air prowess. Dornier conducted "the small boy
formation", while Jaguars
demonstrated an "arrow head
formation" while Sukhoi-30 MKI
caught the attention with their short
take offs and the "Trishul formation". Off the tarmac, the $10 billion medium
multi-role combat aircraft contract
dominated the discussions alongwith
other deals on offer and in the
pipeline. Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet,
France's Rafale and Swedish Saab
Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon put
up some superlative flying displays at
the aeroshow. Defence Production Secretary RK Singh
said at the inaugural function that
India's defence and aerospace market
was expected to reach $150 billion by
2030. There are 675 exhibitors in this show
registering a 16% increase over the
last edition with 581 in all.
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