AEROINDIA 2023: First Hand Impressions

 

 

Theme

 “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”

 

Visited Aero India on 15 Feb 23.

 

Remembered this day four years back (15 Feb 2019). Was up to my neck coordinating the final journey of the martyrs to their home towns all over India and planning the appropriate response to the drastic Pulwama incident.

 

Impressions of Aero India 2023:-

 

    • The air show has come of Age.

 

    • Russian presence is minimal.

 

    • Americans have come with the latest (F-35, F-16/F-21, F-18, B-I).

 

    • DRDO and DPSUs stalls are predominant.

 

    • Emphasis and focus is on:
      • Atmanirbharta
      • Make in India
      • Enhancement of arms export
      • Make for the world.

 

    • Glamorous foreign aerobatic teams and wing walkers are missing.

 

    • Suryakirans and Sarang display are as awe inspiring as ever.

 

    • F-35 display is superb and impressive. (The aircraft is seen of by two ground crew),

 

    • Number of seminars has been restricted and generally limited to Govt agencies and DPSUs.

 

General  observations are as follows:-

 

    • Photograph of PM is all over.

 

    • Static display area has been expanded.

 

    • The entire static display area is cordoned off, and generally the aircraft can be seen from  far and from front. Individual cordon is better but difficult for crowd control I guess. 

 

    • IAF Chalet has been moved from number 2 position to 4 position.

 

    • Their are traffic jams.

 

    • There is no clarity about parking and entry.

 

Glimpses

 

F-18 (USA trying to sell it to IN)

 

 

Big US presence: F-16 & F-35 (not in pic F-18 & B-1)

 

 

SU-30 (Work Horse of IAF)

 

RAFALE (Latest induction in IAF)

 

AMCA (Eagerly Awaited)

 

LCA Mk  2 (Hope it comes in time)

 

Brahmos on Su-30 (most potent combo)

 

Jet Pack (Everyone wants one)

 

RAFALE-M (Eyeing Market : IN)

 

LCA MK2 (Much Needed)

 

TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter: For IN)

(Experience gained from LCA-N being utilised)

 

Vintage  over Modern (Dakota flying over F-35)

 

F-35 (Most Modern Fighter Existing)

 

F-18 

 

Jaguar (Flown 1000+ hrs, Most of it over the sea)

 

Jaguar (Flying it at Ultra low level is so much fun)

 

Apache (Looks Dangerous)

 

Reminder: Air Show is being held in Karnataka

 

Aero Space Power

 

Gripen (Still in the race?)

 

AMCA (5th Gen)

 

Tejas (Indigenous)

 

 

AMCA

 

More coming up (F-35 Debut)…..

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

For regular updates, please register here

Subscribe

 

 

References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

 

 

 

 

AEROINDIA 2023: Impressions & Inferences (Opportunities)

 

 

Theme

 “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”

 

Aero India is a business opportunity event.

 

During the Aero India Show, numerous manufacturers and service providers from the Indian and foreign aerospace and aviation industry (including big international companies, domestic companies, MSMEs, and startups,  both from private and public sectors) would get a chance to showcase their products, meet the potential buyers and finalise deals.

 

The airshow also provides ideas about new technologies, platforms, weapons, and systems.

 

New Technologies that are influencing warfare in general and air warfare in particular are:-

 

    • Quantum computing – the ability to compute and handle data.

 

    • Space-based internet – Data availability (Speed & Capacity).

 

    • Hypersonics – expanding the zone of combat in both offensive and defensive operations.

 

    • AI + Robotics + Miniaturisation – Unmanned platforms in all domains of air, sea, and land.

 

    • Networked environment.

 

    • Virtual Reality + Artificial Reality + 3D Holography.

 

Some of the future opportunities for the defence and aviation companies are:-

 

    • Unmanned Platforms in land, sea, and air domain.
      • Drones and Swarms.

 

      • Anti-drone systems.

 

      • Combination of manned and unmanned platforms (Loyal wingman concept).

 

    • New Generation platforms (6th/7th generation) – maybe space capable.

 

    • Multi-domain, multi-sensor ISR systems.

 

    • AI-based systems (with decision support and what-if options).

 

    • AI-enabled networked solutions for data collection, analysis, planning, dissemination, and monitoring.

 

    • Smart Weapons with the following capabilities:-

 

      • Standoff.

 

      • precision.

 

      • shoot and scoot.

 

      • Fire and forget.

 

      • Search and strike.

 

      • Selective targeting.

 

      • multi-target engagement.

 

    •  Protective infrastructure – Protection from kinetic weapons, hypersonic weapons, and CBRN (Chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear) attacks.

 

    • Survivability enhancement systems

 

      • Armour plating.

 

      • EW systems.

 

      • Deception measures.

 

The air show theme, “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”, aptly describes it.

 

More coming up (IAF and airshow)…..

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

For regular updates, please register here

Subscribe

 

 

References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

 

 

 

 

AEROINDIA 2023: Impressions & Inferences (From ‘Importer’ to ‘make for the world’)

 

 

Theme

 “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”

 

FUTURE: Defence exporter / Make for the World

 

INDIA: Dream Big

Defence Importer to Production Partner to Defence Supplier

 

Above mentioned thought got trolled.

    • Daydreaming.
    • Trying to run before learning how to walk
    • Fancy Ideas without supporting resources, technology, finances and willpower.
    • Meaningless slogans.

 

“The new India of the 21st century will no longer lose any opportunity nor will there be any shortage of hard work. Today’s India thinks fast, thinks far and takes quick decisions.”

– Shri N Modi,  PM of India

 

Growth mindset thoughts

All big things start with an idea.

It is necessary to have a VISION.

Decision-making and calculated risk-taking are essential ingredients for success.

All successful journeys start with small steps.

Failures are part of every process – learn from them, make corrections and move on.

 

Bottom Line

The vision can be achieved by implementing the process in phases, not necessarily sequentially but in parallel. 

 

PAST – Defence Importer.

 

    • India had the dubious record of being one of the largest defence importer.

 

    • Last decade or so the thought process has changed in this regard.

 

    • Emphasis has been on self-reliance / atmanirbharta.

 

    • However the progress had been slow due to various reasons.

 

PRESENT – Make in India.

 

  • The pace of self-reliance has picked up in the last few years.

 

  • The Ukraine war and the Pandemic have re-emphasised the lesson about being self-reliant and have acted as a catalyst to the process.

 

  • China’s belligerent attitude and actions toward the world at large and towards India, in particular,  have added to the urgency of implementing it.

 

 

Aero India 2023: Efforts towards the cause.

 

  • All the activities of Aero India 2023 (including events, Seminars, air displays, static displays and stalls) are planned towards the cause of self-reliance, make in India, arms export and projecting India as a manufacturing hub.

 

  • Read more about the Aims and Focus of Aero India 2023 here:- https://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/2023/02/13/aeroindia-2023-impressions-inferences-1-3/

 

  • Three events being chaired by RM towards this cause are as follows:-

 

  1. Round table conference with CEOs of aerospace and defence industry on 13 Feb 23 (Chaired by RM).

 

    • 70+ Chief Executive Officers (from 26 countries) of global and Indian original equipment manufacturers (including Boeing, Lockheed, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics, Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI) as well as domestic PSUs like HAL, BEL, BDL, BEML) are expected to attend the conference.  

    • The event aims to integrate domestic MSMEs and startups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production.

 

2.RM will chair Defence Ministers Conclave on 14 Feb 23.

 

    • Defence Ministers from 32 countries would attend this event.
  •  
    • The conclave would be an opportunity for defence ministers of all foreign-friendly countries and India to engage with each other.

 

    • The theme of the Conclave is the broad theme ‘Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence (SPEED). 

 

    • The conclave would address aspects related to defence cooperation, capacity building (through investments, R&D, joint venture, co-development, co-production and provisioning of defence equipment), training, space, AI and maritime security etc.

 

3. Bandhan Ceremony On 15 Feb 23.

    • This ceremony will witness the signing of MoUs, agreements, major announcements, and product launches.

 

    • Two hundred and fifty +,  MoUs, with an expected investment of Rs 75,000 crore, are likely to be signed between various Indian and foreign defence companies.

 

Achievement of Dream: Way Ahead

 

  • Becoming a defence exporter would not be an easy task. One has to compete with already established arms manufacturers. A holistic look and approach would be required to venture into the international arena.

 

  • Some of the aspects that would need attention are:-

 

    • Suitable and efficient manufacturing ecosystem (Mil Users + Academia + R&D org + Manufacturers both civil and military in the private and public sector).

 

    • Suitable and efficient organisation to promote defence equipment export.

 

    • Policies to enhance ease of doing business.

 

    • Aesthetics, quality of product and attention to detail.

 

    •  Safety aspects and reliability of the product.

 

    • Working ethos and culture (teamwork).

 

    • Infrastructural support.Post-sale

 

    • Post sale support and sustainability.

 

    • Punctuality and meeting of promised datelines.

 

    • Competitive costing.

 

    • Responsibility as an integrator.

 

    • Production capacity.

 

    • Astute project management.

 

    • Induction and utilisation by domestic users.

 

    • Media trials and warfare.

 

 India aims to boost defence export from $1.5 billion to $5 billion by 2024-25

 

More coming up(IAF and airshow)…..

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

For regular updates, please register here

Subscribe

 

 

References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.