Aero India: Top US firms eye Indian defence pie

A large industry delegation from the US will participate at Aero India 2013 in Bangalore showcasing advanced capabilities geared towards India's air, land, naval, and internal security systems needs.

Focused on enhancing industrial partnership and meeting India's defence modernisation requirements, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has sent its largest industry delegation to Aero India 2013 in Bangalore.

The 12th executive defence mission from USIBC, comprising nearly 400 top American and Indian companies focused on enhancing the US-India commercial relationship, includes senior executives from America's premier aerospace and defence companies.
It's led by Lt. General Jeff Kohler (Ret.), vice president, Boeing military aircraft, and Vice Admiral (Ret.) Kevin J. Cosgriff, senior vice president, international business and government, Textron Systems.

Kohler and Cosgriff expressed optimism towards the growing defence partnership, and noted the maturing partnership between the two countries' defence industries.

In meeting many of India's defence modernisation requirements, "US industry leads the way in offering the most advanced technology with long-term support for the multitude systems offered", said Kohler in a statement.

"In addition to offering proven US platforms and systems and an end-to-end commitment to customer satisfaction, we are eager to initiate cooperative programmes with India's defence industry," Cosgriff said.

Top US defence companies represented at the show include ATK, BAE Systems Inc, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, DuPont, Exelis, FLIR, General Electric, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, Harris, Honeywell, L-3 Aviation Products, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, Sikorsky, Textron Systems, Telephonics Corporation and Tyco.

On display will be a USAF variant of the recently acquired C-17 heavy-lift aircraft, C-130J Super Hercules, F-16, KC-135, and other best-in-class systems from US industry, such as armoured security and light combat vehicles, tactical communications equipment, integrated weapons systems, thermal imaging technologies and network munitions systems, USIBC said.

US defence sales to India have risen from just over $200 million in 2001 to over $14 billion today.

"This remarkable growth in defence sales translates to thousands of high-skill jobs being created both in India and the United States, making it a 'win-win' for both countries," USIBC president Ron Somers said.