Aero India, Asia's Biggest Air Show Wednesday Feb 18,2015

 

Inaugurating the 10th edition of the Aero India 2015 in Bengaluru on Wednesday Feb 18,2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was important to modernise India's defence forces and increase preparedness

"We do need to increase our defence preparedness. We do have to modernise our defence forces," said Modi as he flagged off South Asia's biggest air show to showcase India's air prowess and seek investments from global aerospace firms to realise his government's 'Make in India' programme in the strategic defence sector.

Narendra Modi is the second prime minister - after HD Deva Gowda in February 1997 - to unveil the biennial Aero India expo

As many as 54 ministerial and other high-level delegations from several countries are slated to attend the inaugural event. Over 600 companies, including 295 Indian and 328 foreign ones, are participating in the exhibition.

The US -- with 64 companies -- will have the biggest presence at the event; 33 other countries are also taking part

France will be the second biggest participant with 58 companies, followed by the UK with 48, Russia with 41, Israel with 25 and Germany with 17, said the organisers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya’alon 

Nearly 1.5 lakh visitors are expected to throng the event.

Note

Aero India is a biennial air show held from 1996 and aviation exhibition held in Bangalore,Karnataka, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station organized by Defence Exhibition Organisation, the Ministry of Defense