- Tuesday, March 04, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (13) flagged off Aero India 2023 — Asia’s biggest air show — in Bengaluru in the southern state of Karnataka.
The 14th edition of the event will witness display of indigenous equipment and technologies to forge partnerships with foreign firms. More than 800 companies from nearly 100 nations are participating in Aero India 2023.
Aero India is a wonderful platform to showcase the unlimited potential our country has in defence and aerospace sectors. https://t.co/ABqdK29rek
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2023
The five-day event, themed ‘The runway to a billion opportunities’, will showcase the country’s growth in aerospace and defence capabilities.
The inaugural day of the show featured aerobatics along with a big exhibition and trade fair.
Inaugurating the air show, Modi said Aero India reflects India’s new strength and aspirations. He also added that the indigenously made Tejas aircraft and INS Vikrant aircraft carrier are examples of India’s potential.
“India’s successes are giving proof of its possibilities and capability and added that Tejas aircraft roaring in the sky is the proof of the success of ‘Make in India’. The new India of the 21st century will neither miss any opportunity nor leave any stone unturned in its hard work. We are gearing up,” the prime minister said in his address.
He also underscored the importance of Aero India taking place in Karnataka which is one of the major centres of India’s technological advancement.
The Modi government, under its ‘Make in India’ policy, has been insisting that manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing, and Airbus share technology or make more than parts in the country.
United States Charge d’Affaires Ambassador to India Elizabeth Jones is leading the largest-ever US delegation to the biennial air show.
Over 250 agreements with expected investments of Rs 75,000 crore (£7.5 billion) are likely to be signed between various Indian and foreign defence companies.
Air India is expected to announce a potentially record deal to buy nearly 500 jets from Airbus SE and Boeing Co, worth more than $100 billion (£83 billion) at list prices.
