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| Massive turnout at India air show | Massive turnout at India air show |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Some 500 aircraft companies from around the world have flocked to an air show in southern India hoping to cash in on the country's booming aviation sector. | Some 500 aircraft companies from around the world have flocked to an air show in southern India hoping to cash in on the country's booming aviation sector. |
| The five-day event at the Yelahanka air base in Bangalore will showcase a range of new civilian and military aircraft. | The five-day event at the Yelahanka air base in Bangalore will showcase a range of new civilian and military aircraft. |
| India plans to buy 126 fighter jets for its air force to replace its fleet of ageing Soviet-era MiG-21s. | India plans to buy 126 fighter jets for its air force to replace its fleet of ageing Soviet-era MiG-21s. |
| Industry estimates suggest India will need more than 1,000 planes over the next two decades as air travel booms. | Industry estimates suggest India will need more than 1,000 planes over the next two decades as air travel booms. |
| Air traffic in India could double by 2010 to 50 million passenger journeys a year on the back of a growing economy, according to one estimate. | Air traffic in India could double by 2010 to 50 million passenger journeys a year on the back of a growing economy, according to one estimate. |
| 'Decision soon' | 'Decision soon' |
| Some 45 foreign delegations and 35 air force chiefs from various countries are attending the five-day air show. | Some 45 foreign delegations and 35 air force chiefs from various countries are attending the five-day air show. |
| India is being viewed by the US as a major link in the global supply chain Ron Somers, USINDIA Business Council | |
| Indian Defence Minister AK Antony, who officially opened Aero India, said a decision on the purchase of the fighter jets would be made very soon. | |
| "It [the request for proposals] is almost in the final stage... I can assure that a decision in this regard will be taken very quickly," he told reporters. | "It [the request for proposals] is almost in the final stage... I can assure that a decision in this regard will be taken very quickly," he told reporters. |
| The BBC's Habib Beary in Bangalore says the deal is estimated to be worth more than $10bn. | The BBC's Habib Beary in Bangalore says the deal is estimated to be worth more than $10bn. |
| He says the race is primarily between Lockheed Martin's F-16s, the Gripen made by Sweden's Saab, Russia's MiG-35, the Eurofighter from Europe and the Rafale made by French company Dassault. | He says the race is primarily between Lockheed Martin's F-16s, the Gripen made by Sweden's Saab, Russia's MiG-35, the Eurofighter from Europe and the Rafale made by French company Dassault. |
| Hundreds of civilian aircraft and fighter jets will be displayed during the air show, which is being attended by more international visitors than ever before. | Hundreds of civilian aircraft and fighter jets will be displayed during the air show, which is being attended by more international visitors than ever before. |
| More than 50 US firms are among companies present. | |
| Ron Somers, president of the USINDIA Business Council, said it was no longer about the US selling equipment to India. | |
| "What is important is that India is being viewed by the US as a major link in the global supply chain, which will create thousands of jobs," he told the AFP news agency. |