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PHOTOS: Bengaluru Puts On Yet Another Spectacular Aero Show

PHOTOS: Bengaluru Puts On Yet Another Spectacular Aero Show
Britain's Breitling SkyWalkers Aerobatic Team members perform aerial stunts atop Boeing Stearman Biplane at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 18, 2015, on the inaugural day of Aero India 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer, saying he wanted 70 percent of hardware to be manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. Speaking at the start of a major aviation industry conference, Modi told hundreds of foreign and local businessmen that his government would favour domestic firms when awarding defence contracts as part of a larger push to boost India's manufacturing sector. AFP PHOTO/Manjunath KIRAN (Photo credit should read MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images)
MANJUNATH KIRAN via Getty Images
Britain's Breitling SkyWalkers Aerobatic Team members perform aerial stunts atop Boeing Stearman Biplane at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 18, 2015, on the inaugural day of Aero India 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer, saying he wanted 70 percent of hardware to be manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. Speaking at the start of a major aviation industry conference, Modi told hundreds of foreign and local businessmen that his government would favour domestic firms when awarding defence contracts as part of a larger push to boost India's manufacturing sector. AFP PHOTO/Manjunath KIRAN (Photo credit should read MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images)

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.

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A member of British aerobatics team Breitling Wingwalkers performs at the inaugural function of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event that runs through Feb. 22.
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Members of British aerobatics team Breitling Wingwalkers perform at the inaugural function of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event that runs through Feb. 22.
MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images
A United States Airforce (USAF) member cleans the windscreen of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft on display at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 19, 2015, on the second day of Aero India 2015.
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Indigenously manufactured Indian Air Force Dhruv helicopters perform aerobatic skills on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, watches fighter aircrafts perform a display at the inaugural function of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
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A cameraman films as Russian aerobatic team Yakovlev performs at the inaugural function of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
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U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft takes off on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images
A Rafael multo-role combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation of France takes off at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 18, 2015, on the inaugural day of Aero India 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer, saying he wanted 70 percent of hardware to be manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. Speaking at the start of a major aviation industry conference, Modi told hundreds of foreign and local businessmen that his government would favour domestic firms when awarding defence contracts as part of a larger push to boost India's manufacturing sector.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Members of British aerobatics team Breitling Wingwalkers perform on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Russian aerobatic team Yakovlev fly upside down on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
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Engineers and support staff sit in the shade of an Embraer EMB-145I aircraft fitted with the country's first indigenous airborne radar system called the Airborne Early Warning and Control System, during rehearsals for the Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event that starts Feb. 18.
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Visitors crowd the static aircraft display area on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Russian aerobatic team Yakovlev fly in a formation on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through Feb. 22.
Ariel Hermoni-Levine /Israeli Ministry of Defense via Getty Images
In this handout provided by the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon visits the arms exhibition in India at Aero India 2015 on February 18, 2015 in Bangalore, India. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon is in India, marking the first state visit by an Israeli defense minister to that nation. (
MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images
The Sarang aerobatics team of the Indian Air Force fly Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 18, 2015, on the inaugural day of Aero India 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer, saying he wanted 70 percent of hardware to be manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. Speaking at the start of a major aviation industry conference, Modi told hundreds of foreign and local businessmen that his government would favour domestic firms when awarding defence contracts as part of a larger push to boost India's manufacturing sector.
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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.