Accompanied by several superlatives—largest, oldest etc—the 15th edition of Aero India opens on February 10 at air force station Yelahanka in Bengaluru. There is no doubt that the show has grown. The additional halls are a testimony to the show’s growth. According to ministry of defence’s claim, Aero India 2023 had 809 exhibitors. Given that even more temporary halls have been built this time, there will be greater number of exhibitors, mainly Indian. Do greater numbers imply great show? The answer to that question is seldom in the affirmative, because government numbers are mostly about projection than reality.
However, in the case of Aero India, the measure of the show can be had by the way defence and aerospace companies participating in the show feel about it. One way of judging it is by their investment in the show, both in terms of hours and resources. For most big-ticket exhibitors, Aero India is a one-day show. It gets over after the departure of the prime minister. Given this, over the last few years, more exhibitors, especially the international ones, have rationalised the money they spend on Aero India. Many prefer exhibiting inside their country pavilions which subsidise their exhibits. Others bring only the models of their equipment, instead of the real things.
For instance, until this issue of FORCE went to print, there was confirmation of only one foreign fighter coming to the show—United Aircraft Corporation’s 5th Gen Su-57 (erstwhile T-50)—as static display. Contrast this with the show a decade and half ago, when multiple competitive programmes (fighters, helicopters, airlift aircraft, trainers, flight refuelling aircraft etc) ensured overcrowded tarmac and busy skies. In fact, exhibitors had to pay a premium to book a flying display slot for their platforms.
Today, India still requires many of these categories of platforms, yet government’s projectionist policy of make in India has killed the competition without strengthening the Indian industry. A measure of this can be had from the February issue of FORCE which showcases how India’s defence preparedness has fallen prey to the government’s penchant for replacing policies with slogans. The IAF’s fighter strength is precariously low, it is still making do with six Russian FRAs, the AWACS programme has hit the wall, the armed forces continue to struggle with helicopters, and there are more unmanned systems in breathless press releases and feverish articles than in service with the Indian armed forces.
Yet, these demands of the Indian armed forces no longer excite the global manufacturers. They have understood that the dynamics of procurements in India have changed in the last decade. Defence purchases are now a tool of government’s foreign policy and not military preparedness. So why waste money on the show in India when the same can be utilised by lobbying their own governments to leverage their products with the Indian government.
A big show is not necessarily a better show. Read on.