600 arms firms to take part in Aero India-'09

New Delhi: With India looking to induct a large number of aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) in the coming years, almost 600 armament companies are expected to take part in the Aero India-2009 to be held in Bangalore next February.
"Around 330 companies from 50 countries and 270 firms from India are likely to take part in this 7th edition of the biennial international aerospace exposition," said a defence ministry official on Monday.
"Nearly 100 different types of aircraft, both civil and military, will be on display," he added, after the first meeting of the apex committee for Aero India-2009, which was chaired by defence minister A K Antony.
The Centre will be spending around Rs 20 crore to augment the infrastructure in and around the Yelahanka air force station at Bangalore for the airshow. International aviation majors ranging from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and BAE Systems to Sukhoi, Embraer, Bombardier and SAAB will all be making a beeline for Aero India-2009 to hawk their wares. The mother of all defence contracts is, of course, going to be the purchase of 126 multi-role fighters for IAF at a cost of $10.4 billion.
12/08/08 Times of India

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Categories: Aero India 2009