New Delhi: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Bengaluru next Wednesday to inaugurate the five-day Aero India 2015, America will be for the first time the largest foreign presence at India's premier air exhibition.
Although the Indian Air Force (IAF) flies predominantly Russian aircraft, and Moscow has traditionally made a splash at previous Aero India shows, Russia is sending no military aircraft to Bengaluru this year.
In a sign of changing times, seven of the eleven foreign military aircraft on display will be American - two F-15C Eagles, two F-16C Fighting Falcons, one Boeing KC-135 tanker, one C-17 Globemaster III and a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. The IAF flies the C-17, while the navy operates an Indian version of the P-8A, called the P-8I.
Besides these American aircraft, three French Rafale fighters - shortlisted for acquisition by the IAF - will fly aerobatics displays. In addition, there will be one Brazilian Embraer EMB-145 jet. American companies will similarly dominate the exhibition area. Of 328 defence companies from 33 countries participating in Aero India 2015, America will have the largest representation with 64 companies. Following the US will be France (58 companies), the UK (48), Russia (41) and Israel (25).
10/02/15 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
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Although the Indian Air Force (IAF) flies predominantly Russian aircraft, and Moscow has traditionally made a splash at previous Aero India shows, Russia is sending no military aircraft to Bengaluru this year.
In a sign of changing times, seven of the eleven foreign military aircraft on display will be American - two F-15C Eagles, two F-16C Fighting Falcons, one Boeing KC-135 tanker, one C-17 Globemaster III and a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. The IAF flies the C-17, while the navy operates an Indian version of the P-8A, called the P-8I.
Besides these American aircraft, three French Rafale fighters - shortlisted for acquisition by the IAF - will fly aerobatics displays. In addition, there will be one Brazilian Embraer EMB-145 jet. American companies will similarly dominate the exhibition area. Of 328 defence companies from 33 countries participating in Aero India 2015, America will have the largest representation with 64 companies. Following the US will be France (58 companies), the UK (48), Russia (41) and Israel (25).
10/02/15 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
