New Delhi: Airbus is all set to showcase its best-in-class military products and cutting-edge defence technologies at next month's DefExpo in Lucknow.
Exhibits of Airbus at the four-day show which opens in Lucknow on February 5 will demonstrate its capabilities and commitment to kick-start a defence industrial base in India.
Visitors to the Airbus stand will find scale models of the highly versatile C295 aircraft which is proven around the world as a tough, reliable and high-performance workhorse with outstanding lifecycle costs and excellent performance on short or unpaved runways.
Airbus has bid to manufacture the C295 in India together with Tata Advanced Systems. The combat-proven A330 MRTT, the only new generation aerial refueller in full service today, will also be on display. In addition, exhibits of the AS565 MBe Panther, the H145M and the H225M helicopters will be on display.
Airbus has offered to build the Panther or the H145M in India under the government’s Strategic Partnership (SP) model for the Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH) programme.
The H225M has been offered as part of the Naval Multi Role Helicopter (NMRH) programme. Designed to cater to all the needs of India’s armed forces, these helicopters would be produced in India in partnership with Mahindra Defence.
“Airbus is uniquely placed to participate in the ambitious growth journey of the Indian defence industry and take it to new heights. DefExpo is a key platform to showcase our commitment to the country’s ever-growing aerospace and defence needs,” said Anand Stanley, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia.
The European consortium said that its defence projects in India will lead to creation of thousands of jobs, skilling of people, technology absorption and will catalyse the local supplier base. Airbus currently works with more than 45 suppliers in India, and the annual procurement from them is worth more than $650 million.
Airbus’ network of dedicated Indian suppliers provides engineering and IT services, aerostructures and materials for several of Airbus’ leading aircraft. Over 7,000 people, including 1,500 engineers, are currently employed across Airbus projects in the country, a statement of Airbus India said here.
A global leader in aeronautics, space and related services, Airbus in 2018 generated revenues of €64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000 world over.
Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners and is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies.
