Aero India airshow took off yesterday in Bangalore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the biennial event. Major foreign companies such as Boeing and Airbus Group participate in the show, hoping for contracts from the India, the world's biggest importer of defence equipment.
More than 300 companies from 33 countries are participating this year, the 10th anniversary of the event. The United States has the biggest representation with 64 companies followed by 58 from France and 48 from the United Kingdom. Israel, which has exported weaponry to India in recent years, is represented by several companies and their defence minister Moshe Ya'alon. Defence ministers from nine other nations are attending the show.
It remains to be seen if deals will be struck to manufacture defence equipment in India, as part of Modi's 'Make in India' initiative.