Bangalore, February 11
Curtains today rung down on the five-day Aero India 2007, the aero spectacle dubbed as the best in Asia, with the defence majors across the world present in full strength exhibiting their might to snap up several military deals from India.

The likely deals included the multi-billion dollar medium-multirole combat aircraft purchase, for which the request for proposal is likely to out in six months.

The visibility, however, was high from the United States, which, close on the heels of the Indo-US nuclear deal is lobbying hard for a sizeable chunk of the Indian Defence billings.

Two of the US majors, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, vying powerfully for the 126 fighter-aircraft deal, dubbed the biggest deal in the world in the past 15 years, exhibited the prowess of their aerial wares F-16 flying falcon and the F/A-18 super hornet, respectively.

Also in the run was the MiG 35, an upgraded version of MiG 29, which was displayed for the first time out by Russia, and Swedish Gripen. Besides, these four fighters, Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale also are trying for the order.

The sixth edition is also dubbed as the Aero India Tata 2007 as business tycoon Ratan Tata who had a extended presence flew in F-16 and F-18 hogging a massive public limelight. The show, however, began on a tragic note as a few days before the inaugural, one of the Advance Light Helicopters (DHRUV) of the Sarang Display Team crashed during a practice sortie killing the co-pilot and seriously injuring the pilot.

Another incident happened on the third day when the indigenously designed and developed Intermediate Jet Trainer steered off the track due to a tyre burst just before take off for a display.

Its wings and landing gear were damaged but the presence of mind on part of HAL Chief Test pilot Baldev Singh, who switched off the aircraft engine, saved further damage. The IJT however participated in the display programme today. The show concluded this evening with a splendid display by the Surya Kiran team. — UNI