The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Show
A review of Aero India 2021
In this extensive review of Aero India 2021, readers are (air) transported to AFS Yelahanka for a most comprehensive overview of what was what during the 13th Edition of the event, inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh “amidst challenges brought about by Covid-19”.
13th edition of the Aero India Show was formally inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at AFS Yelahanka on the morning of 3 February 2021. During his speech, the Minister commended the organisation of this biennial event “amidst challenges brought about by Covid-19” and added that owing to restrictions, Aero India 2021 “would be a purely business event and there would be no public days”.
Present at the Aero India 2021 Show were Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, CAS Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, COAS General MM Naravane, CNS Admiral Karambir Singh, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy and the Civil Aviation Secretary Mr. Pradeep Singh Kharola. (seen on the dias in the photo below).
The Minister continued in that, “Aero India 2021 will display the vast potential of India, and the multifarious opportunities that our country offers in the field of defence and aerospace sector. It also promises to be the world’s first-ever hybrid aero and defence exhibition”. The Minister also spoke about the threats and challenges to India emanating from multiple fronts, urging that India remains “vigilant and prepared to counter and defeat any misadventure to defend its people and the territorial integrity at all costs”.
The traditional flypast which followed was heralded this time by an Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight, led by the Tejas LCA and including a pair of HTT-40s and single examples of HJT-36 Sitara and Hawk-i. The aircraft static display was overwhelmingly of HAL-built aircraft including the Jaguar, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dornier 228 as also IAF fighters such as the Rafale, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29UPG, apart from helicopter types including the Chinook, Apache and HAL Dhruvs.
Mr Rajnath Singh repeatedly referred to the very recent formal order for 83 LCA Mk.1As which he described as the “biggest” Make in India defence contract yet and also mentioned overseas interest in the Indian-fighter, specifically mentioning the Maldives, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. “India is steadily marching from Make in India towards Make for the World”, he further stated.
The Minister conveyed that India was gearing itself to project power and influence across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). “India has a vast coastline, but our interests also lie beyond our shores. It includes our people who reside and work across continents, especially in the IOC. It is our bounden duty to remain capable and willing to assist them in times of natural calamities and security challenges”. Mention of the Maldives however raised some eyebrows as this tiny archipelago in the Southern Arabian Sea has a very tiny air wing with two HAL Dhruv ALHs for SAR and utility tasks.
Continuing, he appreciated the participation of over 540 exhibitors including 80 foreign companies with defence ministers, delegates, service chiefs and officials from more than 55 nations. He highlighted Sangam of rising demand, greater innovation, conducive policies and maturing ecosystem in the sector.
In his speech, Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar said that India had taken “a leap in organising a completely COVID-compliant exhibition in hybrid mode” and expressed his gratitude to ambassadors and delegates from more than 55 nations who were in attendance, which “reflects positive temperament of people across the world and renewed global interest in the capabilities of India”. He said that Aero India 2021 provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and forge partnerships in the aerospace and defence sectors.
On second day of Aero India 2021, the MoD officially issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) to HAL for the HTT-40. The RFP is for 70 aircraft with a clause for an additional 38 aircraft which will be delivered to the IAF for meeting the Stage I flying training syllabus. These will supplement the present PC-7 Mk.IIs being operated of the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. The HTT-40s will be built at two sites, HAL’s Bangalore Complex and at Nasik.
In the course of next days, formal contract documents to produce Tejas Light Combat Aircraft were handed over by the Ministry of Defence to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said “the exhibition would display the vast potential and the multifarious opportunities that India offers in the aerospace sector and that was the world’s first ever hybrid Show with a concurrent virtual exhibition making it a truly digital and global event”.
Two HAL-Dornier 228s were subject of lease to Alliance Air which subsidiary of Air India will operate these 19-seater STOL aircraft for regional air links in parts of India, including the North East. Although touted as the first Indian-built airliners to be operated in the country, in fact HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division at Kanpur has delivered licence-built Avro 748s to the erstwhile Indian Airlines and later, Dornier 228s to the erstwhile Vayudoot, which aircraft were later taken over by Indian Airlines (Short Haul Division), being operated on specific routes including to the Lakshadeep Islands.
The Defence Minister made some specific announcements in that the government plans to spend $130 billion on Indian military modernisation over the next seven years, and that steps had been taken to strengthen the nation’s security
apparatus with domestic manufacturing and complex defence platforms becoming focus of the Aatmanirbhar Policy. The government had enhanced Foreign Direct Investment in the Defence Sector up to 74 per cent through the automatic route and 100 per cent through the government route, would also create a conducive system for exports, and offset discharge. The newly introduced Buy Global-Manufacture in India category of capital procurement in Defence Acquisition Policy 2020 specifically allows outright purchase of equipment from foreign vendors and indigenous manufacture through an Indian subsidiary, a joint venture or an Indian agency.
Mr Rajnath Singh said that the India pavilion at Aero India 2021 showcased India’s design and manufacturing supply chain associated with various rotary wing systems. He said that with a strong and diversified Micro, Small, Medium Enterprise sector composed of more than active 5000 units, “India has the potential to become a reliable supplier of defence equipment to many of its friendly nations”.
The Minister stated that “to achieve the twin goals of self-reliance and exports, we have set a target to achieve Rs 1,75,000 crore turnover, including export of Rs 35,000 crore in aerospace and defence equipment and services by 2024”. He recognised India’s interests beyond its shores and said that it was India’s duty to remain capable and willing to assist them in times of natural calamities and security challenges, and expressed happiness at organisation of the first Indian Ocean Region’s Defence Ministers’ Conclave with the theme Enhanced peace, Security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. This was implementation of the concept of the Indian Ocean, built around Security and Growth for All (SAGAR), as visualised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.