BEYOND THE THUNDER AND FLASH !

Last month, the skies over the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru were abuzz with lots of thunder and flash. And why not? Aero India, anchored on the theme ‘A runway to a billion opportunities’ was unfolding with all the accoutrements– VIPs, grand stands, nerve-shaking acrobatics, thunder and flash; not to forget the surprise debut call by the F-35s. A report by Gen. V K Saxena

- Gen. V K Saxena

The recently concluded 2023 edition of Aero India (in its 14th avatar) was its biggest version ever since the show started in 1996. Aero India is the biggest air show in entire Asia.

This event was attended by:

➤811 exhibitors from 98 countries.
➤701 Indian companies.
➤110 foreign companies.
➤32 defence ministers.
➤29 chiefs of air staffs.
➤74 CEOs of major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

While flaunting the above numbers might give a feel of ‘high’, it is less than half the story. The bigger and major part which is not contained in the above arithmetic is the growth story that has happened between the first and the 14th edition and how the same got a shot-inthe-arm by the twin drivers of Make-inIndia and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

What did the Prime Minister say?

Before attempting to measure the current stature of Aero India, it will be relevant to recall a few statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his inaugural address at the Aero India event, as these set the correct backdrop to making an assessment. He stated the following (quote-unquote):

➤‘Bharat ki Unchai hi bharat ki sacchai hai (India’s soaring status is indeed India’s truth).
➤Pratyaksham kim Pramanam? (India’s reality is in front of us, it requires no proof).
➤This government is like a combat pilot. It thinks far, it thinks fast and it takes quick decisions.