BENGALURU: The 14th edition of India's largest aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India, kick-started in Bengaluru on Monday.
The event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also bolstered the 'Make in India' campaign and gave a fresh impetus to the domestic aviation sector.
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari led the Gurukul formation during the flypast at the inaugural ceremony of the mega air show.
This year's exhibition is expected to be the biggest air show with the highest rate of participation and will feature top international think tanks, major aerospace companies and world leaders, according to the Defence Ministry.
United States Chargé d'Affaires Ambassador to India Elizabeth Jones led the largest-ever US delegation to the biennial air show at Bengaluru's Air Force Station.
"As India modernises its defence capabilities, certainly we want to be the partner of choice. We are increasingly focused on mutually beneficial co-production and co-development partnerships," she said.
ALL ABOUT AERO INDIA 2023
According to PTI, defence officials had confirmed the participation of as many as 809 exhibitors, including 110 foreign ones for the show at Air Force Station Yelahanka.
A premier exhibition in the global aviation industry, Aero India is held biennially in a total area of around 35,000 sqm, providing an opportunity for the industry to showcase its capabilities, products and services.
Aero India 2023 will be a five-day event, which will include aerial displays by aircraft and helicopters, along with a large exhibition and trade fair of aerospace and defence companies.
On the first day, Aero India 2023 witnessed the participation of more than 80 countries. Ministers of nearly 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in the five-day event.
More than 800 defence companies, including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies, were also a part of the event today.
MAJOR EXHIBITORS IN AERO INDIA 2023
Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include -
- Airbus
- Boeing
- Dassault Aviation
- Lockheed Martin
- Israel Aerospace Industry
- BrahMos Aerospace
- Army Aviation
- HC Robotics
- SAAB
- Safran
- Rolls Royce
- Larsen and Toubro
- Bharat Forge Limited
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
- BEML Limited
DRDO'S TAPAS-BH AT AERO INDIA 2023
Defence Research and Development Organisation-developed Medium Altitude Long Endurance class unmanned aerial vehicle TAPAS-BH (Tactical Aerial Platform for Advanced Surveillance - Beyond Horizon), which made its first public flight at Aero India, can carry a variety of payloads up to a maximum of 350 kgs, DRDO officials told PTI.
"TAPAS is DRDO's solution to the tri-services ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) requirements. The UAV is capable of operating at altitudes up to 28,000 feet, with an endurance of 18 plus hours", DRDO officials said.
The DRDO pavilion will showcase over 330 products categorised into 12 zones, including Combat Aircraft & UAVs, Missiles & Strategic Systems, Engine & Propulsion Systems, Airborne Surveillance Systems, and Sensors Electronic Warfare & Communication Systems, it was stated.
AERO INDIA 2023: HAL TO DISPLAY UNIQUE AATMANIRBHAR FOUNDATION
HAL will display a unique 'Aatmanirbhar Formation' flight of 15 helicopters consisting of all variants of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), 'Prachand' Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The fixed-wing front will witness LCA twin-seater variant, Hawk-i, Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) and Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT)-40 aircraft.
HAL will showcase its full spectrum training capabilities and display, for the first time, the scale model of Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT)-42, which is the 'Next Gen Supersonic Trainer' that will play a critical role in modern combat aircraft training with state-of-the-art avionics like Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) with Fly by Wire control (FBW) system.
HAL will showcase its range of products/technologies centred on the theme ‘Innovate. Collaborate. Lead'.
HAL's major attraction at its indoor pavilion (HALL-E) will be the scale model of the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), Next generation HLFT-42 and models of LCA Mk 2, Hindustan Turbo-shaft Engine-1200, RUAV, LCA Trainer, Hindustan-228 etc. The outdoor display adjacent to the HAL stall will feature Rotary wing products LUH and ALH Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) variants.
ALH, Dornier, Hawk-i, HTT-40 will also be on static display. In addition, civil certified Do-228 will be showcased for utilisation in the commercial flying sector.
The central theme of the India Pavilion is the Fixed Wing platform. An actual LCA-Tejas in FOC configuration will be the centrepiece along with various associated structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs) etc. being produced by private partners. There will also be sections for Def space, new technologies and UAV which will give an insight into the growth of India in each sector.
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