Indian Government News,
Asia's largest air show Aero India 2009, to be opened on 11th February at Indian Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bangalore will see unprecedented participation of international and domestic companies in the aviation sector.
With participation of 592 companies, 303 international and 289 Indian, the show has become bigger and larger. Significantly, the participation of domestic exhibitors has steadily grown from 66 in its inaugural show in 1998, to 289 this year, accounting for nearly half the total exhibitor strength of about 600. The 7th edition of this prestigious show will have about 44000 sqm of exhibition area as compared to 30000 sqm in 2007.
The Indian Air Force would be one of the major participants at the show with majority of its fire power on display. This would include the Air Superiority Fighter Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, the basic and intermediate jet trainer Kiran and the advanced jet trainer Hawk; rotor power in the form of MI-8s and ALH, and transport support by IL-78 MKI tanker, the workhorses AN32 and the Dornier-228.
The Indian Army will showcase its prowess through Army Aviation Corps that will display a mock special heliborne operation.
Other major Indian participating agencies in the show are Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Centre for Airborne Systems and the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).
The ADA will be presenting the Light Combat Aircraft – Tejas. The world's smallest fighter aircraft weighing a little over 7 tones and with a capacity to carry about 60 per cent of its basic weight as ordnance, a feat unmatched by any modern aircraft, Tejas will be a major attraction of the show.
HAL will showcase its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) – Dhruv. This light-weight, multipurpose flying machine has already been inducted into Indian Armed Forces. Also on display from the HAL stables are the Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT – 36 and Hawk MK 123.
The multi-role aircraft Saras from the NAL will be another attraction of this year's show along with Hansa, the super light-weight trainer.
