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The eighth edition of the biennial Aero India being held from February 9 to 13 is expected to surpass all previous editions of the premiere air show in terms of participation and volume, Secretary Defence Production Raj Kumar Singh said here.
Registering an increase of over 20 per cent in terms of participation from the last edition, this year 675 exhibitors will showcase their aerospace merchandise and products in 75,000 sq metre area at the Yelahanka air base in Bangalore.
He said for the first time in the five-day show, the participation of civilian sector would be more than defence companies as 55 per cent of the exhibitors would be from the civilian aerospace sector.
Singh said invites have been extended to 64 countries to send their official delegations to attend the show and 45 of them are expected to visit.
USA, France, Germany, UK, Russia, Italy, Belgium and Israel are the top eight participating countries.
A total of 93 domestic and international aircraft including the Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000 and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas would take part in the show.
For the first time, the indigenously-developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) would also be put on static display.
Other aircraft on the display would be Eurofighter, Advance Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Helicopter, Gripen, F-16, Rafale and Ka-226T choppers.
In the flying displays, the main attraction this year would be the Austrian `Red Bull` aerobatic display team which will perform along with the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) and the Sarang helicopter display team.
Apart from the Russian MiG 35, all the contenders in the race to supply 126 Medium-Multirole Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) to the IAF would be present.
This includes the American F-16 and F/A-18-E/F, Swede Saab Gripen, French Rafale and the European Eurofighter.
