Bengaluru, Feb 14 (IANS): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would showcase its prowess at the five-day 12th edition of 'Aero India 2019' expo, starting here on February 20, to hard sell its military aircraft and helicopters, said a top official on Thursday.
"HAL will explore opportunities at the Aero India by showcasing its fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms and technologies as an industry player in the domestic and global defence market," said HAL Chairman and Managing Director R. Madhavan in a statement.
Dassault Aviation of France will also take part in the expo, likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and display Rafale aircraft, which is ignited a controversy over deal to purchase it.
The statement was issued ahead of the biennial air show at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force on the city's northern outskirts near the Bengaluru International Airport.
The aerospace major is also organising the present edition of the air show, where 31 aircraft will be part of the flying display and 22, static display.
HAL's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft), upgraded Hawk Mk132 named Hawk-i, Civil Do-228 (civil version of Dornier 228 aircraft), Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Rudra, Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) will also be part of the flying display.
The fixed and rotary wing aerobatic teams Suryakiran (Hawk aircraft) and Sarang (ALH-Dhruv) will enthrall about six lakh visitors likley to attend the carnival of aircraft.
The defence behemoth will also showcase its LUH (PT-1), LCH (TD-2), ALH Rudra and ALH Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) as part of static display, HAL said.
At the expo, 360 exhibitors -- 196 from India and 164 from foreign countries -- will showcase their products.
HAL's pavilion will include technological demonstration of the tail boom folding and main rotor folding of the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH), which is ALH customised for the Navy.
"For the first time, HAL's Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (SPORT) simulator will be at the pavilion," the statement added.
The SPORT aircraft will be used for fighter training after advanced jet training stage and before the induction of pilots into the frontline fighter squadron.
The exhibition space will also have a Jaguar aircraft simulator, HAL said.
As part of the air show's 'Innovate' theme, the aerospace major will also display the technologies of Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE-25) and Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE-1200) along with rotary unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), models of avionics and mechanical system line replacement units and complex manufacturing capabilities.
Global aerospace majors, including Boeing (US), Lockheed Martin Corp (US), Russian Aircraft Corp MiG, Saab (Sweden) and European aerospace firm Airbus, will also take part in the exhibition.