Bengaluru Sky Witnesses capability of New India: PM Modi Inaugurates Aero India show

Bengaluru: PM Narendra Modi flagged off the 14th edition of India’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India in Bengaluru on Monday.

“The sky of Bengaluru is becoming a witness to the capability of New India. Bengaluru’s sky is giving testimony that the new height is the truth of New India. Today, the nation is touching new heights and even crossing them,” PM Modi said at the inauguration ceremony.

Nearly 809 companies from 98 countries are taking part in the event.

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari led the Gurukul formation during the flypast at the inaugural ceremony of the mega air show.

The theme of Aero India 2023 is “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”. It is a military-dominated air show. Yet it also features India’s efforts to accommodate a domestic travel boom and rebuild its brand abroad.

Around 251 agreements with expected investments of Rs 75,000 crore are likely to be signed between various Indian and foreign defence companies during this air show. Air India is expected to announce a potentially record deal to buy nearly 500 jets from Airbus SE and Boeing Co.

Aero India 2023 will feature aerobatics along with a large exhibition and trade fair of aerospace and defence companies.

United States Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador to India Elizabeth Jones is leading the largest-ever US delegation to the biennial air show. An F-16 Fighting Falcon duo, one of the United States Air Force’s (USAF) leading fighter jets, will conduct daily aerial demonstrations. The F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet, the US Navy’s most advanced frontline carrier-based, multirole strike fighter available today, will be on static display.