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Asia’s biggest aviation show Aero India 2017 kicked off at the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Yelahanka base in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The eleventh edition of five-day aerospace and defence event saw some thrilling aerobatic displays by fighter jets including the indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who inaugurated the Aero Show, said India requires approximately 400 fighter jets and 800-1,000 helicopters, all of which can be manufactured within the country with foreign partners.
The Indian Air Force also inducted its first indigenously developed airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system.
After having skipped two editions of Aero India, the Surya Kiran Aerobatics team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force was back on display with a new jet-powered advanced Hawk aircraft and performed the 500th public display since its formation in 1996.
Another reason that makes Aero India 2017 special is that this time there are multi-billion dollars worth deals up for grabs.
Separately, the Indian Navy has also floated a tender to supply and produce 57 twin engine carrier borne fighters, for which Boeing has expressed interest to participate with its F-18 twin engine planes.
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