Addressing researchers and scientists at the 48th Founder Memorial Lecture of Sriram Institute for Industrial Research at Kamani Auditorium here, Kota Harinarayana said "projection for the next 20 years indicate that India would need around 1200 aircraft for civil aviation involving 100 billion USD."
"India, China and the Middle East now constitue a major new market for civil aircraft whereas Europe and the US have achieved maturity," he added.
Discussing 'Aviation, National Security and Wealth Generation' here, Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India and Indian National Academy of Engineering Harinarayana pointed out that India, having the fourth largest Airforce in the world, needs to "sustain and maintain its air superiority".
Lauding the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) techonogies developed in India in 1980s, he claimed "the LCA has superior technologies compared to aircraft such as Mirage 2000(French), F-16(American), JAS-39 gripper(Swedish) and Rafael (French).
"Indian Airforce has placed an initial order for 40 aircraft on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), he said. (more) PTI SHL SJY
