Aero India has little of India on offer

Amid the roar of the American and European fighters, next to the impressive foreign aircraft and new generation technologies, some Indian aviation enthusiasts are an unhappy lot on the eve of Aero India 2009.

For many of them, it is turning out be the “dullest” Aero India, one with the least Indian characteristics, where the achievements of the country in aviation — modest by global standards — are being showcased only in the peripherals.

The only saving grace is the pavilion put up by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the handing over of five Dhruv helicopters manufactured by HAL to the Ecuadorean Air Force.

“While foreign participation has increased over the years, it is disheartening to note the absence of India’s inventory. The average Indian never gets to see India’s airpower on display. There are other aircraft in India’s wide fleet which should have been demonstrating here,” said Kapil Chandni, an analyst at Bharat-Rakshak.com, a website on Indian defence. Chandni is a regular at the Aero India shows, held in Bangalore every two years.

In reality, the roar over Bangalore skies mostly belongs to the foreign aircraft vying for India’s huge defence market. None of the Indian products, such as the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, and the intermediate jet trainers or the Saras aircraft, are cornering impressive mindspace here.

In fact, HAL has, at the last minute, withdrawn its new intermediate jet trainers (IJT) from Aero India. The IJTs were withdrawn from their showcase flights after one of them had a bad landing on its belly during a practice flight last Saturday. Defence production secretary Pradeep Kumar said HAL is “not going to fly the IJT this year.”
“The Aero India should be significantly about India showcasing its aerospace capabilities. For sure, it must provide space for foreign exhibitors. But over the years, our participation is dwindling, while foreign players are stealing the limelight,” said a senior official working in a crucial role in the government.

“It’s good to see glamourous foreign aircraft. However, our own projects seem to be stuck in a warp. Thousands of kids will walk away with the impression that the Indian aerospace sector has nothing to show properly,” said Chandni.

Enthusiasts agree that at this rate, Aero India may be just about the venue of the show rather than the capability of the country. Frankly, it could be held anywhere, even outside India.