India’s aerospace hub, Bangalore is preparing for South Asia’s largest air show, AeroIndia 2011, which opens today, Wednesday, at the Yelahanka air base on the city’s outskirts. The eighth edition is the largest ever with about 675 exhibitors, including 380 from 29 countries and 295 domestic firms, participating in the five-day trade expo. There is a 70 percent increase in gross exhibition area to 75,000 square metres from 44,000 square metres in 2009 and total of 70,000 business delegates from 70 countries and 275,000 general visitors are expected.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony will open show in the presence of Minister of State for Defence Production M.M. Pallam Raju, chiefs of the Indian armed forces and military delegations from the world over.
Official delegations from 36 countries, including the big five – Britain, Germany, France, Russia and the US – are visiting the biennial event to promote their global aerospace majors for new collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures with Indian state-run and private enterprises.
The US delegation, led by its Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro, will be the largest with 250 members, including officials, chief executives and experts in the field . Other major delegations will be from Germany with 35 members and Italy 10. Eight countries – Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia and the US – have put up dedicated pavilions for their respective aerospace companies and organisations.
About 100 military and civil aircraft, including 47 foreign planes and different helicopters, will be on static or flying display. Besides Tejas, the Indian defence R&D establishments and state-run behemoths like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will display a range of jets, unmanned aircraft (Nishant), pilotless target aircraft (Lakshya) and ground-based systems such as radars, electronic warfare systems and airborne early warning systems.