WHAT

As we enter the home stretch for India's latest and biggest air show AERO INDIA 2011 its time to reflect on the happenings so far.

Over the years the Aero India air show held every two years has caught the eye of international and national air industry, which throngs to the air show in huge numbers displaying their latest and most modern wares.

The 7^th Aero India 2011 which kicked off on 9 Feb was surely the mother of them all. With 675 exhibitors, a 16% increase over last time it was the biggest of them all so far. With the single minded resolve to modernize the country’s military capability India is spending billions of dollars in acquiring the latest and best it can afford, while its fledgling indigenous industry struggles to play catch up.

Defence Minister AK Antony declared open the five-day biennial airshow, which signaled the start of the spectacular air display by the Surya Kirans and Jaguars of the IAF followed by some superlative flying displays Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, France's Rafale and Swedish Saab Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon. India’s own LCA Tejas, Dorniers and Sukhoi SU30 MKI also put on superb displays.

Behind the scenes action was concentrated on bagging the $10 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract along with other deals on offer.

Organisation/ Manufacurer	Country	Aircraft	Aircraft on Display
Army Aviation	India	Pushpak Lancer ALH (F) ALH 1(S)	French Rafale F-16 Super Viper F-18 Super Hornet Saab Gripen HAL's LCA - Tejas HAL's Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainer HAL's Light Combat Helicopter IAF's Dornier 687

ADA - DRDO	India	Tejas
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd	India	ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) - VT HAM ALH FAE 601 - Dhruv ALH 3268 - Dhruv Dornier 228-201 Hawk - MK 132 IJT (International Jet Trainer) - S3466
National Aerospace Laborataries	India	HANSA SARAS Zephyr
Embraer	BRAZIL	Legacy 600
Dassault	FRANCE	Falcon 7X
EADS	GERMANY	Eurofighter
German Air Force	GERMANY	A310 MRTT
IAI	ISRAEL	G 550
Agusta Westland	ITALY	Koala
Russian Federation Military	RUSSIA	AN 12 MiG 35D* (*see comments below)
Italian Eurofighter Typhoon MiG 35 (not on display)* Colourful Russian MiG 35 (not on display)* HAL's International Jet Trainer HAL's Advanced LCH Embraer Legacy 600

Behind the scenes canvassing was evident as the six contenders Eurofighter, F-16, F-18, Gripen, MiG 35 and Rafale, tried to out do each other by showing off the capabilities of their MMRCA aircraft. Only MiG 35 was conspicuous by its absence at the show indicating that the Russians were confident that they had already bagged the order!

Many reports were floating. One had it that Rafale & Eurofighter had been rated as technically the best. Another suggested that the fight was between F-16 and F-18. Defence Minister was quoted as saying that the serious business of deciding the finalist would commence from April 2011 when the commercial bids would be considered and reactions to the final tender documents were received from all the contenders. He suggested that the contract was likely to be finalised by September 2011.

Whatever be the merits or demerits of the Indian defence procurement system it has evoked intense competition in the global defence industry, to try and bag the more than $10 billion order. As has happened in the past one cannot rule out that political and strategic compulsions will play their part in the final countdown!

Already there are murmurs that having finalised the development of a 5th generation fighter aircraft based on the Russian T-50 design as a joint venture project with Russia, India may lean towards the Russians and go for the MiG 35. Keep your fingers crossed!