Aircraft
‘Make In India’ Was the Key Focus of Aero India Show
From fighters to helicopters to AEW aircraft to missiles, foreign OEMs competed to meet India’s requirements.
Part of the line-up at this year's Aero India show in Bangalore. (Photo: Neelam Mathews)
Part of the line-up at this year's Aero India show in Bangalore. (Photo: Neelam Mathews)

The 11th Aero India show at Bangalore last week was bigger than ever, as foreign manufacturers vied to offer attractive “Make In India” proposals to meet the country’s substantial defense needs. Meanwhile, the country’s own long-established aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) showed the Advanced Hawk jet trainer that has been co-developed with BAE Systems, and proposed an Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH). Neither project has official backing in the form of a firm requirement or orders, but at the show HAL did sign a memorandum of understanding with the government for a large new helicopter testing and production facility in the state of Karnataka.