Aircraft Expo Gets Under Way Today

The Russians, who recently sealed the $1.8 billion Sukhoi-30 deal, the French, Germans, and surprisingly the Americans have all set up stalls here, hoping to grab some of the Rs 35,000 crore defence orders expected during the next three years.

French engine manufacturer Turbomeca, US-based LHTEC and Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) of Germany are all in the race for the estimated $1 billion engine deal for the advanced light helicopter (ALH) project under which some 500 choppers are to be produced by Hindustan Aeronau-tics Ltd for the three services and civilian services.

The show will be opened by Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today. The Su-30, MiG-29, US F-16, Sea Harrier and a host of other planes and choppers will feature in the airshow.

 

Both Boeing and Airbus have booked stalls but do not plan any displays. Executives of both firms hope to corner the $2 billion order for Air Indias medium capacity large range (MCLR) aircraft.

The recent clearance by the US to allow sales of testing, evaluation, training and simulation equipment to India has brought in a host of US companies to the show.