The US brought its most advanced fighter jet, the F-35, to India for the first time at the week-long Aero India show in Bengaluru alongside F-16s, Super Hornets and B-1B bombers.
India is looking to export an inventory of indigenous air platforms, including Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, Dorniers, Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) among others.
Argentina is looking to acquire 15 Tejas Mk-1A fighters, HAL chairman says on sidelines of Aero India, adding that first of 83 IAF ordered last year will be delivered in February 2024.
IAF’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme acted as a catalyst for making fighters in the country, says William Blair, Lockheed Martin’s India vice-president and chief executive.
India has listed 85 kinds of equipment and 47 sub-systems for export to Indian Ocean & African countries to help increase defence base to $25 billion by 2025.
On the air show’s last day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says India plans to move from $11 bn defence base to $25 bn by 2025, with a $5 bn export component.
The Navy has been desperate to replace its Chetak helicopters of 1960s vintage with NUH but the procurement process for 111 such choppers has been stuck.
Economists say there are weaknesses in India’s GDP data. But statisticians claim the accusations are based on flawed understanding, saying while GDP has problems, the economists are looking in the wrong places.
Both the governments expressed their commitment to strengthening their maritime cooperation to strengthen the maritime safety and security framework in the region.
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