Get unique ID for Aero India, show begins tomorrow

Bangalore, Feb 5: Defence Minister A.K. Antony will inaugurate the ninth edition of Aero India 2013 at Air Force Station Yelahanka, tomorrow (February 6) with an exhibition area nearly double of what it was in 2011.

The ninth edition of aerospace event is expected to see the participation of over 700 companies and 78 overseas delegations covering an approximate gross exhibition area of 1,25,000 Sqm. The Aero India 2011 saw the participation of exhibitors from 29 countries with more than 600 companies and gross exhibition area of 75,000 Sqm.

for enhanced convience and security, registration for visitors to the air show and sale of tickets is online, wherein a unique ID would be generated on filling the details. Then the tickets can then be collected from 10 ticket collection centers in the city on production of the unique ID generated. Photo ID is mandatory for entry to the air show. There is no cash sale of tickets for the air show this year. The details can be accessed at www.aeroindia.in

Antony angry over LCA delay

Terming time slippages as a "real problem" for the defence forces, Antony today pulled up the DRDO for "delays in delivery" of military projects and said he was "impatient" to see completion of LCA project. "I am happy for your achievements of DRDO but not fully happy. Delay in delivery is a real problem... Try to speed up your process and reduce time for research, development and production. Delays should be avoided," he said while addressing an international seminar here. The seminar 'Aerospace products- challenges in design to deployment' was held as part of the Aero India show.

On the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' project, he said the DRDO was getting ready for the second Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of the indigenous fighter but "I am impatient for the Final Operational Clearance (FOC)."

The LCA project has been delayed by more than 20 years. After the FOC for the aircraft, the aircraft would be ready to be deployed for operational deployment in the IAF.

The Defence Minister also expressed concern over the delay in the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) programme being developed by HAL, saying the IAF has "problems" with it. "That (IJT) project is delayed delayed delayed. You must focus on that project and by next conference that should be ready," he said.

Even IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne also expressed unhappiness over the delays in development projects. "So far our modernisation plans have been restricted due to slippages in time lines of many of our projects," he said. The IAF chief also suggested imposition of "financial penalties in case of poor performance of the work centre, either by withholding further payments or recovery of money already spent."

To avoid problems in development projects in future, Browne suggested there should be "dual assessment" and the production and design agencies should be one.

In the LCA project, the design agency is Aeronautical In the LCA project, the design agency is Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of DRDO while HAL is the production agency.

In his address, the Defence Minister urged both private and public sector to shed their "miserly attitude" and increase their allocation for research and development in their companies. "I am not satisfied with the investment in R&D in government also. The private sector is very very poor in R&D sector," he said.

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)