The show is over. The showmen have flown away. Leaving one big question -- what was it all about? The 9th edition of Aero India was definitely a smooth affair with no major controversies emerging out.
Hit by the last edition’s plane parking scam, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) played on a safe and sure script this time. However, the fizz was missing on all five days with nothing concrete emerging out.
Aero India 2013, touted to be bigger than the previous eight editions of the biennial event, in many ways disappointing. Though the MoD hyped the participation of the otherwise rare Russian Knights aerobatic team and the Flying Bulls, the crowd felt at the absence of the Indian Air Force (IAF) aerobatic team, the Suryakirans.
As the contenders for the $10 billion Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) had showcased their capabilities in 2011 show, this edition had fewer fighter aircraft.
The event seemed more of a business enclave rather than an air show to demonstrate the power and prowess of their capabilities. With the IAF getting everything what it had asked for in the form of new assets, the air show was expected to be a low-key one. Every speaker at the show played to the gallery by asking the industry to join hands in India’s aerospace and defence march.
The small and medium industries felt chocked with the exorbitant prices they had to pay for getting exhibition stalls - a fact that was brought to the attention of the media.
Even the established players were stretching their imagination to get some attention.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) managed to snatch some print space by handing over Rudra to the Army -- this again a pre-planned photo-op to bask in the glory. But, for the desi defence devotees, Tejas, Rudra, Light Combat Helicopter and the eye-in-the-sky (EMB-145I) provided some solace.
Now, a select-group of SMEs and MSMEs are busy assessing the good, bad and best of the show. It will be worth watching what they have to say considering the growth of a nation’s aerospace might is not assessed from stunts performed in the skies, but the progress industries made and the confidence they garnered on ground.
The question that’s already been asked is whether we need such a show, incurring so much of expenses, to celebrate India’s aerospace ‘might’. May be a scaled-down version might be the right answer. Over to A K Antony!