Bangalore. The five-day Aero India 2009 was an impressive show, and better than before with an increasing number of foreign and Indian participants, thanks to the Indian Air Force’s mega plans for transformation to 42 squadrons by 2022 and an ultramodern infrastructure and networking of assets.

Inaugurated formally by Defence Minister A K Antony, the event began with breathtaking mavoeuvres by Indian and foreign pilots in their fi ghter jets streaking and tumbling across the sky. Three Mi-8 helicopters trooping the national tricolour, IAF ensign and the Aero India fl ag were the fi rst to appear, followed by a rarely seen eclectic ‘mix formation’ of an Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) leading the pair of Kiran trainer aircraft and Su-30 MKIs displaying the versatility and the ability of the three different categories of fl ying machines to fly in a formation together.

The other mix formations included a vic of an AN-32 and a pair of Dorniers followed by a display of airto- air refuelling of two Mirage-2000 from an IL-78 MKI. The fi rst prototype of ‘Saras’ built indigenously at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) undertook several sharp aerial manouvres displaying its versatility in air.

The jets included the US F 16 and F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian Mig-35D and IAF’s Su-30 MKI, Jaguars and Mirage- 2000. Five of the newly inducted ‘Hawk’ advance jet trainers built by HAL. Four LCA Tejas also fl ew in impressive arrowhead formations.

Present on the occasions were Chiefs of Air Staff from several countries, Ministers of State Rao Inderjit Singh and M M Pallam Raju, Karnataka Chief Minister Dr B S Yediyurappa, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal FH Major, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, DG of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) C Banerjee, Chairman HAL Ashok Baweja and other top dignitaries.

Besides the six contenders who are looking for a $10Billion+ order for Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCAs) in the coming couple of years, there were representatives from foreign companies wanting to supply radars, precision strike systems and weapons, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and systems, aerostats, ground control equipment, Network Centric systems and encryption and security systems.

Top executives from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Eurofi ghter, Gripen, UAC, Rafale, Rolls-Royce, Sikorsky, Bell, Safran, GE, Eurocopter and BAE Systems took the opportunity of the air show to interact with offi cers and representatives from the Ministry of Defence, IAF, and defence public sector undertakings, and private industry.

Held biannually at Bangalore, this year the mega event had 592 exhibitors from 25 countries participating at the show. Of these 303 were from overseas and 289 from home. The participating countries included UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands and Ukraine. China took part for the fi rst time this year.

Air Chief Marshal Major made a significant announcement that by 2017, IAF’s combat aircraft strength would stabilize at 34 squadrons despite the phasing out of some Mig series of aircraft. He also told India Strategic separately on the even of the Aero India that by 2022, IAF should have an all-time high strength of 42 squadrons of combat jets.

One factor is the increasing number of Su 30MKIs whose production within India by HAL has substantially been stepped up. This dominant fighter is now deployed in three corners of the country.

IAF has already phased out nearly 2/3rd of its Mig 21 fl eet, and several aircraft of the Mig 23 and Mig 27 fleet. The half a dozen Mig 25 spying aircraft which flew at three times the speed of sound without threat of any missile or aircraft, were also decommissioned a couple of years ago, thanks to the advent of modern satellite and airborne ISR technologies.

According to the Air Chief, the Indian Armed Forces are collectively spending around $100 billion on replacement and augmentation of their systems in the current fi ve-year plan, while the IAF itself should also spend $100 billion over the next 20 to 25 years to transform itself into a modern force.

Some foreign industry representatives told India Strategic that with the defence spending set to slow down in the West, in particular in the US, China, India and even Russia could emerge as the new markets to sustain their production lines. Like India, most of Russian armed forces equipment is also old, with barely 10 to 25 per cent falling in the category of what could be called modern.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Antony said that despite the economic recession, there was no question of scaling down the defence expenditure in India, or compromising with the ongoing acquisition programmes.

With the defence industry now open to 100 per cent Indian private sector participation, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 26 per cent, the government’s emphasis is on public-private partnership in the defence industry, he said.

Air Chief Marshal Major dismissed the need to put any plans on fast track after 26/11, pointing out that IAF did not have to do so as the force structuring and weapons catered to a spectrum of threat possibilities.

The IAF needs the best and is on a large-scale modernization drive, he added, pointing out that the process is being backed with very good government support. A lot of hard work within the IAF and with aviation-related agencies from within the country and vendors from other countries is on towards the modernization process.

"Economically, the defence-related industries, specially the aerospace industries, both civil and military will continue to bloom", he said.

The Air Chief also said that IAF on course to expand its UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) fleet.

Talking on the issue of operational data linking and networking through fibre optics, he said that the AFNET (Air Force Net) was already progressing very well. The IAF already has an Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) in place. Maintaining the large inventory of equipment and logistics in the IAF was a challenge and towards this IMMOLS (Integrated Materials Management Online Services) is fully operational.

Mr Antony also announced that the eighth Aero India will be held from February 9-13, 2011 at Bangalore.