Foreign Arms Makers Keen To Attend Defence Fair

Companies from Russia, the US, France, Germany, UK, South Africa and Israel, besides the host country, have reserved the entire display space at Yelankha on the outskirts of the city. The show is being organised by the Defence Exhibitions Organisation under the defence ministry.

Official sources said US defence technology companies such as Lorel, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Martin Marietta and others would be represented at the show. A recent Indo-US agreement providing for sale of select US defence technologies to India and cooperation in Indian defence research projects has prompted US firms to show interest in India.

Although India does not buy any arms from the US and the superpower has shown no interest in selling defence hardware to India, the potential cooperation in research is expected to bring in a lot of business.

 

Russia, which is still the number one arms supplier to India, is fighting hard to retain its position following the exclusion of a Russian jet trainer from the shortlist of French and British planes for the Rs 4,000 crore advanced jet trainer (AJT) deal.

Also, India has been buying spares for Russian planes and tanks from Eastern Europe, Israel and South Africa. Recently, India has made large purchases from France, especially of systems and sub-systems in defence electronics.

France, under its defence and aerospace companies umbrella organisation GIFAS, will have the largest contingent with leading majors like Dassault, Aerospatiale, Thomson and engine manufacturers like Turbomeca and Snecma. Dassault is expected to bring in its Mirage-2000 flying display team.

Armscor, the association of South African defence companies, is coming for the first time with its high quality battle transporters and mine clearing equipment. The Israeli Aircraft Industries, which specialises in upgrading aircraft and systems of both Western and Russian origin, will be out in strength having bagged a contract to supply remotely piloted vehicles. It is looking to sell specialised aircraft mounted radars and avionics.

Although India has not placed any defence orders in the past five years, barring one to buy Russian Su-30 planes, the international arms majors are optimistic about contracts soon. The India head of a French company said, They cannot delay it for too long as the pressure from the services is mounting.

The Parliamentary Consultative committee on Defence has endorsed the three services view that a regular schedule of arms induction should be maintained and purchase decisions delayed for a long time, must be cleared. Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has gone on record to say that money would be no constraint for defence preparedness.