By Staff Correspondent
This year’s Paris Air Show has shifted its focus towards the defence sector in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while also addressing the industry’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Defence manufacturers are grappling with challenges such as surging demand, delivery deadlines, production shortages, increased costs of parts, and a scarcity of skilled labour due to the lingering effects of the pandemic.
Visitors at the airshow eagerly await their board turn on the French Air Force’s Airbus SE A400M, a robust four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The A400M, a product of Airbus Military—a consortium of European aerospace companies with assembly operations in Spain—boasts an impressive payload capacity of up to 37 tonnes.
MBDA, the European multinational, presents the Mistral Atlas RC, an innovative Mistral system featuring a remotely controlled turret. Equipped with two or four Mistral missiles and the latest generation thermal sight, this system can be mounted on light armoured vehicles.
A Ukrainian delegation makes its way to the booth of European manufacturer MBDA. Ukraine is negotiating with Western arms manufacturers to bolster domestic weapons production, including drones, within the country.
Spectators witness a captivating performance by the F35 Lightning fighter jet from Lockheed Martin and the Rafale fighter aircraft from Dassault. In an extensive deal worth over Rs 60,000 crore, the Indian Air Force recently received the final 36 Rafale aircraft.
French company Turgis & Gaillard unveils the Aarok, a military medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV). The Aarok, according to its manufacturers, possesses the capabilities to execute “multi-domain operations against peer competitors” and effectively monitor vast expanses of land and sea.
The medium-range air and missile defence ASTER 30 SAMP/T, known as MAMBA in the French Air Force, captures attention with its presence. This mobile anti-aircraft defence weapon safeguards critical sites and deployed forces against missile threats and aerial attacks.
On the sidelines of the International Paris Air Show, a conference on European air and missile defence draws the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron and EU defence ministers. The event takes place at the prestigious Hotel des Invalides in Paris.
A Future Combat Air System (FCAS) model is prominently displayed. This collaborative European project involving France, Germany, and Spain aims to replace the Eurofighter and Dassault’s Rafale with a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft starting in 2040.
