US fighters set to criss-cross Bangalore skies

Feb 1, 2007, 18:36 GMT

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) As India and the US enhance their defence ties, 20-odd American defence behemoths will display their cutting-edge fighter jets and weaponry at India's biggest air show in Bangalore Feb 7.

'There's going to be a major contingent from the US defence industry,' US ambassador to India David C. Mulford told reporters here Thursday.

Former US defence secretary William Cohen and former ambassador to India Thomas Pickering, who now works with aerospace major Boeing, will be present at Aero India 2007, which will see the largest ever participation by US defence companies.

'There will be more people, more technology and more things on display,' the envoy said while alluding to three F-16s, two F-18s and a PC3 Orion the US defence majors will be displaying at the five-day show at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, on the outskirts of Bangalore from.

The show will provide US companies an opportunity to showcase their competitive edge as they compete with Russian, Swedish and French companies for an Indian Air Force tender for 126 fighter aircraft.

It has been jointly organised by a consortium consisting of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Farnborough International Ltd., a global leader in aerospace exhibitions.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony will inaugurate the show.

Official delegations from over 40 countries, as also business representatives of corporations will be attending.

Mulford also spoke about the fast pace at which the India-US relations are moving after the US Congress passed a landmark legislation last month that will open the doors for global nuclear commerce with India.

'We are now looking beyond the civil nuclear deal keeping long-range view of the relationship in mind,' he said. Education and pushing business ties to new heights will be top priorities in the coming years, he said.

A large delegation of presidents of top US universities will visit India in March to strike partnerships and increase their presence in this country.

US Commerce Secretary Carlos Guitterez will be coming here later this month that will take stock of burgeoning business ties with the US foreign direct investment exceeding $1 billion this year.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service