Here's what to expect at Asia's largest defence and aerospace event
An aircraft from Sweden flies past during a press preview ahead of the Aero India 2015 at Yelhanka Air Base in Bengaluru. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/ PTI
It’s just one more day to go for Asia's largest aerospace and defence exhibition and the 10th edition of Aero India seems to have attracted a wide array of flyers from different countries to Yelahanka in Bengaluru.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to inaugurate the show, is expected to arrive at Yelahanka Air Force Station on Wednesday where six aerobatic display teams, including the mind-boggling Sarang aerobatic team from the Indian Air Force, are already prepped for the show.
Breitling Aerobatic Aircraft from UK and Scandinavia displaying acrobatics during a press preview ahead of the Aero India 2015 at Yelhanka Air Base. Photograph: PTI photo
The Indian flying team will also have LCH, Dhruv, Rudra, Sukhoi and Tiger Moth. Among the foreign military aircraft that will be seen at the air show include F-15C Eagle, Lockheed F-16C, Boeing KC-135, Boeing C-17, Rafale and Embraer EMB-145I.
The foreign civil aircraft set to participate include PC-12 NG, Falcon 2000, Phenom 100E, Boeing B 75, Boeing A 75, Viking, Catwalk, WASP, RRJ 95, EMB 505, Bell 407 GX Helicopter, King Air 350 ER, 19-seater Turbo Prop AI Industry, Z Lin Z 50 LX, OmaSud Sky Car, Falcon 7 X and Dornier 228-New Gen.
The exhibition will also include sectors like defence manufacturing and airport infrastructure besides aerospace, defence and civil aviation.
Describing the biennial event as one of the largest premium air shows in Asia, Secretary (Defence Production) G Mohan Kumar outlined the impetus of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“We want to set 'Make in India' as the major theme of the exhibition and see 'Make in India' progress in the defence sector also,” Kumar said.
Besides 54 ministerial and other high-level delegations from several countries that are slated to attend the inaugural event, the exhibition will also see participation by over 600 companies, including 295 Indian and 328 foreign companies, he said addressing reporters.
With 64 companies, USA is the leading participant in the exhibition among the 33 other countries participating. Behind them is France with 58 companies, UK with 48, Russia with 41, Israel with 25 and Germany with 17 companies.
