New Delhi: Indian firms announced many mega-buck deals with global majors during Aero India 2017 which drew to an end on Saturday, but the intangible benefits of the air show will dwarf these multi-million dollar contracts well before the next biennial event as the country’s expertise in aerospace and defence sectors will help roll out a wide array of products for the global market.
For, this air show was a turnaround for domestic industries and products as the focus shifted from military hardware showcased by global majors earlier to proficiency, skills and wares of local enterprises. Many contracts were signed by big-ticket companies such as MBDA, Sweden’s SAAB, or Elbit of Israel, and Airbus Group with local firms, but the seeds for bigger deals were sown with many global majors reaching out to them for joint development and production of aerospace and defence supplies. “We had the greatest opportunity to display our products, all types of helicopters and aircraft ranging from the basic trainer to Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, and going by the response of experts who flew them, we are certain that big business deals are in the offing, and we will turn into suppliers for the world,” Mr T. Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL, said.
On Saturday, the last day of the show, thousands thronged the Yelahanka Air Force Station.
A BEL employee said, “This was an amazing experience and seeing visitors, including foreigners, coming in to visit our stand was heartening.”
Foreign firms too were quite impressed with the show. Mr Vineet Khunger of Saab India said, “This year’s air show was a good one and we will come back for the next one.” A GE official at US Pavilion, who wished not to be identified, said, “It was quite impressive. American companies made a good impression here.”
Mr Rahul Tripathi of Brahmos Aerospace said that he has been seeing the air show grow every year. “Ever since I started frequenting the Aero India, it has only grown in strength. We see more companies coming to participate. Newer companies set up stalls this time and we got to see newer technology.”
But he had some reservations too. “India is looking to become a $20 billion market player by 2020. To achieve that, we need more decision-makers and more crucial decisions taken. We should encourage more countries to participate in the exhibition.”
Expecting Aero India to be held on a bigger scale, he said, “We should aim to compete with the Paris Air Show, Farnborough Air Show or the Moscow Air Show. There should be many more delegations. Hundreds of countries participate in these shows. We should aim to make Aero India like them.”
