Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Aero India 2023, Asia's largest aero show, in Bengaluru today. “The runway to a billion opportunities” is the theme of the 14th edition of the aviation show, which will take place over five days.
Rajnath Singh, India's defence minister, stated on Sunday that the aero show would showcase the country's manufacturing prowess as well as its indigenous tools and technologies. The establishment of alliances with foreign enterprises will also be a priority. According to Singh, the occasion will greatly advance the aviation industry.
February 13-15 will be business days, and February 16–17 will be public days, which will allow the general public to view the show. A Defence Ministers' Conclave, a CEOs roundtable, a start-up event called Manthan, a Bandhan ceremony, air shows, a sizable exposition, an India Pavilion, and an aerospace trade show will all be featured during the Aero India 2023 event.
Salient Features of Aero India 2023:
98 nations will take part in the Aero India 2023 event, which is being organised at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka. There will be 32 defence ministers, 29 air chiefs, and 73 CEOs of international and Indian OEMs at the event.
During the aero show, up to 809 defence companies—including MSMEs and start-ups—will present their technologies and capabilities. The event is predicted to draw 5 lakh visitors.
Among the key exhibitors of Aero Indian 2023 are Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
The purpose of the event is to encourage the export of domestic aviation platforms like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
On February 14, the Defence Ministers' Conclave will be hosted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Defence ministers from friendly nations will attend the gathering. The conclave's agenda focuses on strengthening partnerships for capacity building through investments in research and development (R&D), joint ventures, co-development, co-production, and the supply of defence equipment, training, space technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and maritime security.
A number of bilateral discussions involving the defence secretary, chief of the general staff of the armed forces, and minister of defence will take place alongside Aero India 2023.
On February 13, there will be a CEO roundtable. Participants will include government representatives, delegates, and global CEOs from 26 nations, including those from Boeing, Lockheed, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics, Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, and General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI), as well as domestic PSUs like HAL, BEL, BDL, and BEML.
On February 15, agreements will be signed during the Bandhan ceremony. Two hundred and fifty-one MoUs, with an expected investment of Rs 75,000 crore, are likely to be signed between various Indian and foreign defence companies.
Manthan, an annual defence innovation conference, will take place on February 15. Leading innovators from the defence and aerospace sector will be gathered under one roof, along with start-ups, MSMEs, incubators, academia, and investors.
A total of 115 businesses will participate in the "India Pavilion," which is based on the "Fixed Wing Platform" theme, and will present 227 goods there. At the centre of the India Pavilion will be a full-scale LCA-Tejas aircraft in Full Operational Capability (FOC) configuration. India's development on the Fixed Wing platform will be displayed in the exhibition.
