India not to scale down defence expenditure: Antony
Union Defence Minister A K Antony, today said despite economic recession, the country will not scale down its defence expenditure and continue to acquire new weapons. "There is no compromise with our ongoing acquisition programmes. Our government's emphasis is on public-private partnership in the defence industry," he said.
Inaugurating the five-day seventh edition of Aero India 2009, billed as the biggest biennial event in South Asia, he said the defence industry is now open up to 100 per cent Indian private sector participation, while foreign direct investment is permissible upto 26 per cent.
The air show took off from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station at Yelahanka, about 20km from the city. Defence minister inaugurated the event amid tight security and in the presence of about 5,000 people including B S Yeddyurappa, chief minister of Karnataka, dignitaries, diplomats and air chiefs from the world over were treated to a two-hour long spectacular show by scores of IAF pilots.
"Aero India 2009 will showcase India's emergence as an attractive market and a key outsourcing hub for global aerospace firms. It fulfills all the prerequisites-low cost skilled engineers, good organisations, software and technology. I am confident that Aero India 2009 will provide ample opportunities to the domestic and international players in the aerospace and aviation sectors to tap the market and the business potential for mutual benefit," Antony said.
The defence minister further said the country has always been recognised as a responsible power and a stabilising factor in this region in the face of various secuity challenges originating from different sectors around us. "Our sustained economic growth provides ample opportunities to our neighbours to tap into this economic dynamism. The onus lies with them to derive gains from it," he added.
The inauguration of Aero India 2009 was marked by fly-past and breath-taking manouveres from IAF's assorted aircraft -- Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-35, F-18 Super Hornet, F-16 Fighing Falcon, Eurofighter Typhoon, super-sonic jet trainer Hawk and sub-sonic trainer Kirans and a slew of Sarang helicopters.
Four indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the state-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) scrambled over the gathering, while a IAF fleet of Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) aerobatic team christened Sarang kept the spirits soaring high.
IAF's transport behemoths and air-to-air re-fuelling aircraft IL-78 had the spectators in awe with their sheer size and functionality mid-air.
"Growing in stature, size and public participation, the air show has emerged as the most important event in South Asia, drawing global attention," defence secretary (production) Pradeep Kumar said in his introductory remarks.
With 25 countries participating and 50 official delegations, including many led by their defence ministers and air chiefs descending, the Indian version of the air show has come of an age to turn into a war theatre for the world's major aerospace firms and global consortiums.
About 592 firms, including 303 from overseas and 289 from the Indian sub-continent are showcasing their products and technologies spanning military and civilian sectors to woo the country's three armed services and the burgeoning aviation industry.
Among them are American Lockheed Martin with its strike fighter F-16, Boeing with its F-18 Super Hornet, Russian MiG with MiG-35, European consortium with Eurofighter (Typhoon) and HAL/IAF with Sukhoi, Hawk, Intermediate Jet (IJT), Dhruv.
The Indian government is set to invest a whopping $30 billion over the next five years to modernise and upgrade its mighty defence services.
Spanning an area of 44,000 square metres as against 30,000 square metres in 2007, the exhibition area has five international pavilions hosting Australia, Belgium, Germany, Israel and Romania, 54 chalets and about 600 stalls to house international and Indian firms and a host of facilities forming the eco-system.