Aero India 2009 inaugurated by Indian Defense Minister A K Antony

Asia's largest air show Aero India 2009 is inaugurated by Indian Defense Minister A K Antony at the Yelahanka Air Force station . Ecuadorian Air Chief will recieve Dhruv, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) from Defense Minister at Aero India show. This is the first export of Dhruv ALH and talks are in advanced stage with Mauritius and Suriname in this concern. The seventh edition of the five-day show would see the participation of 592 companies from 25 countries -- 303 international and 289 Indian. In size and number this is going to be the biggest air show hosted by India, so far. Billed as Asia's premier event in the aviation sector, the five-day international trade expo-cum-conference will showcase an array of fighter jets, helicopters, transport and civil aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and a host of products/technologies that form the eco-system of the multi-billion dollar global aerospace industry. A number of aircraft, including F-16, F-18, MiG-35D, Eurofighter, IJT, Dhruv, Hawk, C-17, Embraer 135 business jet Legacy 600, C-130J, Citation XLS, G 550, AN-12 Cargo and A-310 MRTT are on display. Germany and Italy are the largest participants with 31 company each coming to the show. The UK (26), Russia (24), USA (22), Australia (10), Belgium (17), Italy (19), Israel (11) are the other countries having large number of their companies coming to Aero India 2009. Aero India 2009 is organised by the Ministry of Defence and managed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).