Team Mangalorean, Bangalore

Bangalore, Febr 11: The communist China's participation for the first time in an Indian air show has generated interest but New Delhi has sought to downplay it saying too much need not be read into it.      

For the first time, China would be sending a delegation, Defence Production Secretary Pradeep Kumar told media persons here on Tuesday.

It would be a seven-member Chinese delegation.  He said one should not read too much into it. Countries take part in air shows for commercial considerations, he said, hinting there is nothing political about it.        

Asked why Pakistan is not participating in Aero India 2009, Mr Kumar said “we don't invite Pakistan”. On why India did not invite Pakistan, he said “I don't have to answer” and then retorted: “What's your suggestion? (do we have to invite Pakistan or not?.”

Jet deal: The Government today gave no time-frame to finalise the multi-billion dollar deal to supply 126 fighter jets to IAF, saying the selection is a “very complex process” and would take its own time.      

It's a very complex process, Mr Kumar adding that “technical evaluation is going on and after that, the trials will be conducted in hot regions and cold regions.”

These trials would take place within India. The finalising would take its own time, he added.       India had received bids from six companies for the contract -- Lockheed Martin and Boeing of the United States, Russia's MiG, which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation, France's Dassault, Sweden's Saab and the EADS consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies.       

Boeing & BEL sign MOU to set up a facility: Defense public sector undertaking Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Tuesday announced that they have signed a MOU to jointly develop an analysis and experimentation Centre in India to offer customers the ability to make better informed decisions in modernising India's defense forces.

“We are not divulging the monetary value of the venture. We can only say that we are making significant investments. We will set up units in Bangalore and New Delhi”, Boeing Vice-President and India Country head for Integrated Defense Systems Vivek Lall told a press conference here.