Highly successful Aero India-2007 comes to close

Bangalore, Feb 11 (UNI) The five-day Aero India-2007, dubbed as the best in Asia came to a close today with the defence majors across the world present in full strength exhibiting their might to snap up several military deals of India, including the multi billion dollar medium mult-irole combat aircraft purchase, for which the request for proposal is likely to come out in six months.

The visibility however, was high from the United States, which, close on the heels of the Indo-US nuclear deal, is lobbying hard for a sizeable chunk of the Indian defence billings.

Two US majors, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, vyed powerfully for the 126 fighter aircraft deal, dubbed the biggest deal in the world in the last 15 years exhibiting the prowess of their aerial wares F-16 flying falcon and the F/A-18 super hornet respectively.

Also in the run was the Mig 35 an upgrade version of Mig 29, which was displayed for the first time out side Russia, and, Swedish Gripen.

Besides these four fighters, Eurofighter typhoon and Rafale also are trying for the order.

The sixth edition is also dubbed as the Aero India Tata 2007 as business tycoon Ratan Tata who had an extended presence, flew in F-16 and F-18 hogging a massive public limelight.

The show however, began on a tragic note as few days before the inaugural, one of the Advance Light Helicopters (DHRUV) of the Sarang Display Team crashed during a practice sortie killing the co-pilot and seriously injuring the pilot. The pilot received severe head injuries and still remain in coma state at the Training Command Hospital here.

Another incident happened on the third day when the indigenously designed and developed Intermediate Jet Trainer steered off the track due to a tyre burst just before take off for a display. Its wings and landing gear were damaged but the presence of mind on part of HAL Chief Test pilot Baldev Singh, who switched off the aircraft engine, saved further damage. The IJT however, participated in the display programme today.

The show concluded this evening with a splendid display by the Surya Kiran team.

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