The Hindu : Karnataka News : Flying machines all set to take to the skies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Flying machines all set to take to the skies

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 8. A strong American presence, a first-time visit by a Chinese delegation, 80 Indian and international aircraft, 232 international aviation companies and the Indian Air Force on the verge of acquiring 126 state-of-the-art combat aircraft. "Aero India 2005," the grandest international aerospace exposition in this part of the globe, could not have asked for a better script to guarantee global attention.

The Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, will inaugurate the airshow at the Yelahanka Air Force Station here tomorrow, launching a spectacular array of aerial and static displays from the time-tested Suryakiran team to the aero manoeuvres of the Advanced Light Helicopter's Sarang team, fresh from their eye-catching aerial stunts at the Dubai and Singapore international airshows.

Adding muscle to the international fleet will be the American F-15E Strike Eagle, KC-135 and C-130J; the Indo-Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI; the Russian MiG-29K; the British AJT Hawk 100; the French Mirage 2000E and Falcon 2000; the Bell 407 Shen helicopter; and a host of other big names. The re-engined Chetan and Cheetah helicopters, the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), the Jaguar, the Navy's Sea Harriers and Kamov helicopter will form part of the Indian fleet.

HAL's interests

Buoyed by the success of its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Dhruv, and the supersonic Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, State-owned aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will strive to find buyers and showcase the prowess of its aircraft.

However, the company will take up aggressive marketing of Dhruv only after its production levels increases, according to the Defence Production and Supplies Secretary, Shekhar Dutt. So far, HAL has produced 37 of these helicopters, and many of them were purchased by the Indian Army.

Currently, the "extremely versatile" Dhruv is being promoted only in Latin America, West Asia, and the South Pacific region. HAL has signed a pact with Israel to jointly market the helicopter, arguably the best in its class. Also, there is a large requirement from the civil aviation market in the country and State governments, according to a top HAL official.

`India is choosy'

However, Mr. Dutt sounded a note of caution on the exports. He said India is choosy in the selection of buyers. "We will sell only to responsible people. There are some who export to not-so-responsible buyers. We don't want to discriminate between buyers," he said and added that the country's export promotion has picked up in recent years.

On the LCA, he said the aircraft is being developed with an eye on both domestic and foreign markets. "It is the lightest aircraft in its class. India has always shown how lighter and smaller aircraft can be more effective."

The airshow will be a meeting ground for Indian and foreign companies. "The benefits are many: the Defence forces can assess the exhibits, the companies can look for joint ventures in assemblies and sub-assemblies. The process of dialogue will continue even after the show," Mr. Dutt said.

Chinese delegation

For the first time, a Chinese delegation will visit the airshow — a reflection of the event's growing importance in the region. The team is part of the 35 foreign delegates who have been invited to the show. To a question on whether China is still on the negative list of countries for exports from India, Mr. Dutt said it is a major trading partner. "We are guided by the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard," he said. Over its four previous editions, Aero India has grown beyond the domestic market. He said that participating companies have come here for business.

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