AERO- INDIA 2019: Asia’s Largest Air Show

Aditya Singh
As the tamed metal birds flies over the skies of Yelhanka their daunting sound of the jets makes the event spectacular and thrilling as they roared over the skies of Bangalore. The biennial Aero-India show at Bangalore promoted as Asia’s largest Air Show, and has been in existence since 1996.This 12th edition of Asia’s biggest Air Show, Aero India 2019 (20 to 25 Feb 2019) in Bangalore has showcased aircrafts and its technologies and product which include Helicopters, Fighter Jets and Transport aircrafts. With around 400 exhibiters 60 aircrafts which includes LCA Tejas, Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, Dassault Rafale, F-16 fighting Falcon, F- 18 super hornet, mighty B-52 and vintage DC3 Dakota were also part of the show. HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Rudhra are also showcased on the show. The policy initiatives like 100 percent FDI in Defence manufacturing, Defence offset policy 2016, and reliscensing of Defence items in India, India is wooing to push investors with a aim to give a big push to Make in India initiative.A day before the commencement of Aero India, two aircraft of the Surya Kiran aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force, crashed at Isro Layout, Yelahanka, while practising their aerobatic display for the show. Two pilots ejected safely and the third pilot Wing Cdr Sahil Gandhi succumbed to his injuries.
Despite this, there is thunder in the sky and there is lot of vibrations on the ground for technologies, tie-up, and for trade. If come to the part of technologies and tie-ups. Since the inception, it was received in very scratchy fashion in 1996, with on lookers, curious people all around. But, this time, there is a flood from the business perspective, and more people are in meaningful discussion. Government programmes such as Make in India or Skill India, are now the discussions or sense of the mood of how companies are going to have make in India with the tie-ups. For example, L&T had tied up with MBDA for making a missile which is MICA on the IAF’s fleet of Mirage 2000 combat jets. TATAs have tied up with Lockheed Martian, which is offering F-21 aircrafts which is specially made for India.One of such example is the F-21, a multi-role fighter jet, which it claimed will be specifically configured for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The announcement comes in the wake of India floating a request for information (RFI) for 114 fighter aircraft and the US firm is eyeing a multi-billion dollar order. Lockheed said in a statement that it will partner Tata Advanced Systems and that it will have Make in India opportunities that no other firm has offered.However, it first offered the F-16, but was rejected during Indian MMRCA competition, because of the problem with their airframes. This F-21, the firm said, is designed to address IAF’s unique requirements. The company said the new plane highlights its commitment to delivering an advanced, scalable fighter aircraft to the IAF, while also providing industrial opportunities locally.In the field of helicopters Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had a lot to show. The products of HAL such as, the LCH (Light Combat Helicopters) is likely to start entering services in India. The LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) made by HAL was shown, will replace the ageing Chetek and Cheetah Helicopters of the Indian Militry. The civil version of ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Dhruv was also appreciated by many. HAL is also showcasing LUH with the capability to fold the blades so it can be use for the Navy and ship borne operations.Lots of drone technologies are being showcased in this show, Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones as they are simply called, have caught the imagination of ordinary people and Aero India 2019 played to the gallery by hosting a ‘special Olymipcs’ for operators. The number of participants was staggering, a testimony to drones’ proliferation. But experts warn that the lack of regulations and a system to monitor drones could harm national security.At a seminar on ‘Anti-Drone Technology’ on Wednesday, Vikram J Singh, senior adviser, Aerospace and Defence, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, said: “In 2015, there were perhaps 10 anti-drone technologies in the market. Now, there are nearly 300 such companies. It poses a threat to world leaders, stadiums and airports. It’s hard to counter small drones, and this is an area of interest.”