Bengaluru: The country’s biennial air show Aero India began here as Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for fast-tracking India’s journey from defense importer to exporter. Inaugurating the five-day event, which was attended by representatives from 98 countries and over 700 defense companies, Modi said Aero India used to be “just a show and a window to sell India”, but now the perception has changed. Is.
“Today, Aero India is India’s strength and not just a show,” the Prime Minister said, adding that apart from showcasing India’s confidence, the event is also an exhibition of the scope of the Indian defense industry. Talking about the growth of the Indian defense sector in the last eight-nine years, PM Modi said that the government is aiming to increase defense exports from $1.5 billion to $5 billion by 2024-25.
“From here on, India will make rapid strides to be among the largest defense manufacturing countries and our private sector and investors will play a big role in this,” he said, calling for private sector investment in the defense sector. , will create new opportunities for them in India and many other countries.
As Aero India began, the main attraction of the event was the two gleaming F-35 fighter jets that took off and landed in the afternoon.
The landing flights were the multirole F-35A Lightning II and the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. Taking off from Hill Air Force Base in Utah in the United States, the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team demos its aerial capabilities, while the F-35A Lightning II, which took off from Eilson Air Force Base in Alaska, is on static display Stay
In a statement, Major General Julian C. Cheater, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the US Air Force (International Affairs), said, “The F-35 represents the leading edge of American fighter technology. Aero India is the ideal platform to showcase the most advanced, capable, lethal and interoperable weapon systems that the US has to offer. This system and others are designed to penetrate and defeat advanced adversary air defenses.
The aircraft’s debut at India’s air show comes at a time when the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to enter the market for 114 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRFA).
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Aero India: America is tempting India with F-35
The MRFA contract is unlikely to go to a US fighter – the F-21 or the F-15EX – as the French fighter Rafale is the frontrunner, but things could change if Washington offers the F-35, sources in the defense establishment said. Said.
The US is yet to make an official offer for the F-35 stealth aircraft to India, which is working on an indigenous fifth-generation aircraft called the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Sources said the US is wooing India with the F-35, but New Delhi is yet to receive any official statement from Washington.
Under the US system, Lockheed Martin, maker of the F-35, cannot introduce its aircraft on its own and would need government permission to do so – similar to the permission granted to its F-21, specially designed Upgraded version of F-16 made in India.
On steady display, the Americans also have the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet in the field for a naval contract.
however, as ThePrint reported Prior to this, the scales have been tilted in favor of the Rafale Marine, something the US hopes can be rolled back.
“The F-35 is using the capability demonstration to woo India and show what a close partnership with the US can achieve in terms of technology and capabilities,” a source said.
The sources also said that the AMCA is the future of India’s aviation power and its critical design review has been completed by the Aeronautical Development Agency of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).
America’s F-35 and F-22 Raptor, Russia’s Su-57 Felon and Chinese J-20 are the only fifth generation fighter aircraft in the world.
Talking about Aero India, Ministry of Defense (MoD) officials said that Defense Ministers from 32 countries, Chiefs of Air Staff from 29 countries and 73 CEOs from global and Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are expected to participate in the event. are supposed to.
A total of 809 defense companies, including MSMEs and start-ups, are showcasing advancements in niche technologies and growth in the aerospace and defense sector.
Major countries participating in Aero India include both Russia and Ukraine, apart from the American, French, British and others.
The objective of the event is to promote exports of indigenous aerial platforms such as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)- Tejas, HTT-40, Dorniers, Light Utility Helicopters (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
(Editing by Amritansh Arora)
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