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As global aviation firms eyeing the multi-billion dollar civilian and military market showcase their hardware at the Aero India air show that took off on Wednesday, India invited aerospace companies to leverage its low cost, high talent workforce and infrastructure for building aircraft and systems for the world market.
"We can, together, reduce the development and marketing costs, jointly develop state-of-the-art aviation products and do joint marketing," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at the fifth edition of the Aero India 2005 at the Yelanhanka air base on city outskirts which has attracted over 352 aerospace firms from India and abroad.
He said the presence of a significant number of foreign companies is testimony to the opportunities that India offers for joint ventures, technology transfer and co-production for the global market.
225 foreign aircraft and defence systems firms including Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, BAe Systems, MiG and Dassault have a significant presence in the five-day show, as Indian Air Force gears up to buy 126 supersonic fighters to replace its ageing MiG fleet and Air-India plans to add 50 passenger jets worth $7 billion to fly long routes.
"It (Aero India) is an ideal forum to explore business opportunities, as well as to facilitate joint ventures, collaborations, tie-ups for mutual benefit," Mukherjee said.
About 80 aircraft including the Sukhoi30 MK-I, Jaguars, Mirage 2000, the US F-15 Eagle, India's home grown Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft, Intermediate Jet Trainer and Sarang, the Advanced Light Helicopter team displayed their prowess at a scintillating air show.
"The near doubling of participation by Indian firms reflects the coming of age of the Indian defence industry.
There is tremendous scope for outsourcing from India in areas where the companies are competitive," Mukherjee said.
Indian participation has jumped to 126 this year from 74 in 2003, comprising firms which build systems, software and components for Indian defence programmes, besides foreign aerospace majors.
He said the Indian aeronautical industry is not only focusing on military aircraft production, but also has dedicated facilities for civil aircraft manufacture and maintenance.
"In view of the rapid growth of civil aviation in this country and Asia, the Indian aeronautical industry is pro-actively considering diversifying in the field of civil aviation aircraft, manufacture and overhaul," Mukherjee said.
The entry of low-cost carriers like Air Deccan and private carriers like Jet and Sahara, besides favourable government policies has seen a spurt in passenger traffic in India, forcing rival aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus to revise upwards their estimate for aircraft demand here in the next 20 years.
India's passenger traffic is growing at 20 per cent per annum, one of the fastest growing in the world.
Some multi-million dollar deals are expected to be announced in the show by aviation majors, including Franco Italian aircraft maker ATR, Boeing Corp and Lockheed Martin, officials indicated. -- PTI
Eurocopter employees place a scale model of a helicopter on display at the exhibition area of 'Aero India 2005' at the Yehlanka Air Force Station on the outskirts of Bangalore. Photo: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images