Future of Indian Aviation Unfolds at Aero India 2023
Air India takes on Emirates and Rolls-Royce, vies for Engine Technology
The Aero India show in Bengaluru kicked off on Monday, and Indian airlines made a major splash. Air India, the country's national carrier, is reportedly on the brink of announcing a historic deal to purchase nearly 500 planes from Airbus SE and Boeing Co. With a cost estimated to exceed $100 billion according to list prices, this could be a game-changer for the industry.
And Air India's announcement may just be the beginning. According to CAPA India, a leading aviation consultant, major Airbus customer IndiGo - the largest airline in India - could also be on the brink of making a similarly massive order. These developments signal a bright future for Indian aviation, as the nation's carriers strive to keep pace with growing demand.
This week is all about India's quest for aviation dominance. The nation is seeking billions of dollars worth of military planes to upgrade its aging fleet, as well as concluding deals for jetliners to meet the growing demands of its civilian sector. And that's not all - India is also pushing international aircraft makers to ramp up their production within the country.
As a country surrounded by nuclear-capable neighbours China and Pakistan, India boasts the fourth most powerful air force in the world. But with much of its aircraft dating back to the Soviet era, the need for modernization is pressing. The recent expansion of China's influence in the Indian Ocean has also added urgency to India's quest to build up its air capabilities, especially when it comes to aircraft carriers. Aero India 2023 marks a pivotal moment in India's journey towards aviation superiority.
A New Era of Indian Aviation: India's Path to a $5 Trillion Economy
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, launched the air show. It was mostly focused on the nation's military, but also displayed the country's endeavours in catering to the growth of domestic travel and restoring its global reputation. The administration's efforts to increase the fifth most significant economy to $5 trillion by 2026, up from $3.2 trillion in 2021, could possibly result in more industrial supply agreements.
In the near future, CAPA estimates that Indian airlines could be purchasing between 1,500 and 1,700 planes, with both Air India and IndiGo likely being part of the order.
Prime Minister Modi has placed "Make-in-India" at the heart of his economic strategy, requiring that corporations like Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing, and Airbus provide access to their technology or manufacture more than just components in India.
The Battle for India's Skies: Leading Military Aircraft Manufacturers Compete
Reuters was informed by a defence industry source that the time of international companies selling their products directly to India is a thing of the past. The Modi government has shifted its focus to have Indian businesses partner with international companies to produce within the country. India is attempting to diminish its long-standing reliance on Russia, instead procuring military equipment from the US, France, and Israel and promoting its own Tejas light combat aircraft.
Prime Minister Modi's aim to place India alongside leading military powers such as the United States, Russia and China is shown by his efforts to move high technology and production within the country. Air India is attempting to challenge Emirates Airline for a larger portion of the international passenger market. However, many experts have cautioned that this endeavour could be met with considerable opposition. Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC has expressed their willingness to collaborate with India for the advancement of combat-aircraft engine technologies as numerous companies are vying for a share of the multi-billion-dollar market.
The US Embassy in New Delhi has reported that their delegation for the air show will be the largest since its inception 27 years ago. They went on to say that "As India works to update their defence capabilities, we want to be their partner of choice."
In India, the military's requirement of aircraft is great, and the number of fighter squadrons have been reduced to 31 from the originally approved 42 due to bureaucratic and financial impediments. Five years have passed since the $20-billion proposal to purchase 114 multi-role fighters was put forward, and the urgency of the situation has been highlighted by the recent conflicts with China and Pakistan.
The leading manufacturers of military aircraft are interested in the potential agreement, with particular focus on the French Dassault Aviation SA's Rafale, Saab AB's JAS-39 Gripen, Boeing's F-15EX and F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin's F-21 - an improved variant of the F-16 which was presented at the 2019 India exhibition.
Girish Linganna
Defence and Aerospace Analyst
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UP: 6 of family killed in oxygen cylinder blast in Bulandshahr house
Bulandshahr (UP) (PTI): Six people died and three were injured following an oxygen cylinder blast which led to a partial house collapse in the Sikandrabad area of Bulandshahr district, officials said on Tuesday.
District Magistrate of Bulandshahr Chandra Prakash Singh said the incident occurred on Monday evening in the house of one Riyazuddin in which around 19 people, including women and children, were living.
Riyazuddin was involved in shuttering work -- the process of giving support and stability to concrete during construction work before it becomes solid.
The initial death toll was five which increased to six in the early hours of Tuesday. City Magistrate Chandra Prakash Priyadarshi said six bodies -- three male and three female -- were brought to the district hospital.
According to officials, those dead were identified as Riyazuddin alias Raju (50), his wife Rukhsana (45), Salman (16), Tamanna (24), Hivja (3) and Aas Mohammed (26).
DM Singh said, "A cylinder blast occurred in the Ashapuri colony of Sikandrabad between 8.30 pm and 9 pm leading to the collapse of the entire house." He said eight residents were taken to the hospital while others were safe.
Additional Director General of Police, Meerut Zone, Dhruva Kant Thakur said information about the casualties was received, after which rescue and relief operations were launched immediately.
Personnel of the NDRF, fire brigade, police, medical and the local administration were involved in the rescue work, he said.
"Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) took immediate cognisance of the incident. We were sent to the spot and directions were issued that good quality treatment should be given to the injured persons," the DM said.
About the rescue operation, he said the iron beams of the roof of the house had to be pried open using gas cutters. At the same time, an excavator was pressed into action to clear the debris.
On Tuesday morning, Senior Superintendent of Police of Bulandshahr Shlok Kumar told PTI that the rescue operation had been completed at the site.
Although the surviving family members have said that no one was trapped under the debris anymore, the rescue teams took all precautions while carrying out their work, he added.
"A total of six persons have died and another three suffered injuries in the blast because of which the front portion of the double-storey house collapsed," Kumar said.
The wife of Riyazuddin was undergoing treatment for an ailment at a hospital and was recently brought back to the home, where the family had brought an oxygen cylinder along with its accessories to help in the post hospitalisation care, the SSP said.
"This oxygen cylinder exploded. The cylinder, its nozzle, etc have been recovered from the debris," the district police chief told PTI.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further legal proceedings in the matter are underway, he added.
