Aero india

Bengaluru: Aero India, the country’s biennial air show, began here with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying emphasis on fast-tracking India’s journey from a defence importer to an exporter. Inaugurating the five-day event being attended by representatives of 98 countries and over 700 defence companies, Modi said Aero India used to be “just a show and a window to sell to India”, but the perception has changed now. “Today, Aero India is India’s strength and not just a show,” the prime minister said, adding that besides showcasing India’s self-confidence, the event is also an exhibition of the scope of the Indian defence industry. Talking about the growth of the Indian defence sector in the last eight-nine years, PM Modi said the government is targeting an increase in defence exports from $1.5 billion now to $5 billion by 2024-25. “From here, India will take rapid strides to be included among the largest defence manufacturing countries and our private sector and investors will play a big role in that,” he declared as he called upon the private sector to invest in defence which, he said, will create new opportunities for them in India and in many other countries. As Aero India began, the highlight of the event was two gleaming F-35 fighter aircraft that flew in and landed in the afternoon. The flights that landed were the multirole F-35A Lightning II and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. Flying in from the Hill Air Force Base in Utah in the United States, the F-...

Aero India 2023 | Five-day airshow concludes with aerial display of aircraft, helicopters The Aero India 2023, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, was the biggest ever since the airshow began in Bengaluru February 17, 2023 05:57 pm | Updated 10:39 pm IST - Bengaluru The five-day Aero India 2023 concluded as aircraft and helicopters took part in one final performance before a packed house on February 17. The Aero India 2023, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, was the Organised at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in a total area of around 35,000 sqm, the event was the biggest-ever till date and witnessed the participation of 98 countries, according to the Ministry of Defence. Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru opened the doors to visitors on February 16-17 | Video Credit: K Murali Kumar While the first two days were business days with a Defence Ministers’ Conclave, a CEOs Round Table, Manthan start-up event, and Bandhan ceremony, the last two days of the airshow were open to the public with aerial displays being the highlight. The defence ministers of 32 countries, air chiefs of 29 countries, and 73 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs attended the event where 809 defence companies, including MSMEs and start-ups, showcased their technologies. The Bandhan event, held on February 15, was aimed at forging and renewing partnerships between business entities. The event witnessed the forging of 266 partnerships, including 201 Mo...

BENGALURU, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday set out ambitions to more than triple annual defence exports to $5 billion over the next two years, as arms firms flocked to a major air show for a slice of the nation's massive import budget. The country is looking to sign defence India has been one of the world's biggest importers of defence equipment for decades, but it has punched below its weight in the global arms export market. New Delhi's export ambitions are a sign of its growing clout as it uses the leverage of huge imports to attract investment in its domestic industry. "Today, India is not just a market for defence companies, it is also a potential defence partner," Modi said in a speech at the show. "I call on India's private sector to invest more and more in the country's defence sector." India exports defence products to 75 countries, he added. Past Indian exports include Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) India has also exported other items such as offshore patrol vessels, coastal surveillance systems, avionics, chaff rocket launchers and spares for radars. The air show aims to promote exports of indigenous air platforms such as Tejas, Dhruv, HTT-40 training aircraft, Dornier light utility helicopter and the light combat helicopter. India also wants smaller domestic companies and start-ups to make parts for large defence products globally as well as to attract foreign investment for joint product development and production. Defence experts...

The two aircraft, F-35A Joint Strike Fighter from Hill Air Force Base, Utah and F-35A Lightning II from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska arriving in India also assumes strategic importance in the backdrop of increasing ties between India and US and the geopolitics in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Major General Julian C Cheater, assistant deputy under secretary of the US Air Force, International Affairs, said on Monday: “The F-35 represents the leading-edge of US fighter technology. Aero India is an ideal forum to showcase the most advanced, capable, lethal, and interoperable weapons systems the US has to offer. This system and others are designed to penetrate and defeat advanced adversary air defences.” Kiran MK-II is an advanced two-seat, tandem arrangement, trainer aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. It is in service since 1974. The Kiran MK-II features a lightweight structure, modern avionics, and advanced flight control systems, making it a capable platform for training future generations of pilots. The Rudra advanced light helicopter (ALH) is a multi-role helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and weapons systems and can be used for a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, anti-tank operations, and search and rescue. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Dornier Do 2...