09 February,2009 10:22 AM IST | | Chetan R
As the country looks to modernising the fleet, competitors bring the best they have to offer at this year's airshow
India is expected to make spend $10 billionu00a0u00a0 on 126 fighters for modernising its fleet, and competitors plan to showcase their best to bag the deal.
"Lockheed Martin, Boeing, MIG, Dassault, Saab and EADS are all exhibiting their aircraft," said an IAF official. "In fact, we have many firsts this time," said the official.u00a0 "Fighter planes will be the talking point this time."
The Eurofighter Typhoon, a multi-role fighter, of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), is one such aircraft to look out for.
F-16s, Falcons, Hornets, MiG-35s and Rafales will also be on display.
"I'm excited," said D Kumar, an aerial photographer. "I'm looking forward to capturing the fastest planes in the world.u00a0 We have many new aircraft this time."
Besides the fastest, the largest warplanes too are in focus. This includes Boeing C17 and an Omega Tanker apart from the Luftwaffe aircraft.
While the C17 is the most capable air lifter ever made, the Omega Tankeru00a0 isu00a0 used to refuel fighter craft.u00a0u00a0
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Other aircraft include IJT, Dhruv, Hawk, Embraer 135 Business Jet Legacy 600, C-130J, Citation XLS, G550, AN12 Cargo, and A310 MRTT
"I will visit the air show on February 14 with my family. It is a rare occasion when we can watch aircraft from all over the world fly over our city," said Basavraj, a resident of Yelahanka.
>> The show will be open for public on February 14 and 15u00a0
>> 592 exhibitors from 25 countries such as UK, USA, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, Russia and India willtake part
>> 303 exhibitors are from overseas, 298 will exhibit Indian technology
