Aero India 2023 to showcase India's growing aerospace capabilities

India's biennial aerospace exhibition Aero-India will begin on Monday with the aim of projecting the country as a key hub for manufacturing of military aircraft, equipment and avionics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the five-day exhibition at the Yalahanka Air Force station complex on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Officials said 809 defence companies and delegates from 98 countries are participating at Aero-India, billed as Asia's biggest aerospace exhibition.

At a press conference, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Aero India will act as a catalyst in further growth of the aerospace sector in India and will help in realising the country's aim of becoming self-reliant in defence manufacturing.

"I am confident that Bengaluru will emerge as a global hub for the aerospace sector. Our aim is to create a vibrant defence manufacturing ecosystem," he said.

Singh said this edition of Aero India will be much bigger than all previous editions.

To a question, Defence Secretar