America's 'Best' On Display at Aero-India 2007

NEW DELHI, India, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Encouraged by the U.S.-India nuclear partnership, U.S. companies have flocked to Bangalore to Aero-India 2007 to demonstrate commitment to a robust defense relationship with India, offering top technology, co-production, job creation and the manufacture of critical components on Indian soil.

As an example of its partnership, this is the first time the U.S. Department of Defense has sent such a display of air and firepower to the subcontinent. The Boeing Company will showcase the F/A-18f, C-17 transport aircraft and Chinook heavy-lift chopper, while Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-16, will display the C-130j and P-3c.

Former Secretary of Defense, William S. Cohen, and former envoy to India, Thomas R. Pickering are leading a U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) Executive Mission to Aero India, comprised of top flight U.S. companies including 25 senior leaders representing The Boeing Company, The Cohen Group, Emergent Bio-Solutions, Fremont Group, General Dynamics, General Electric Aviation, Honeywell International, ITT Industries, Lockheed Martin, L-3 Communications, Raytheon, Sikorsky, Bell Textron, UTC/Pratt & Whitney, and Goodrich.

USIBC's seventh defense mission to India in the last 25 months comes on the heels of unprecedented U.S-India strategic defense cooperation, exemplified by the recent sale by the U.S. Navy to India of the U.S.S. Trenton. USIBC Mission delegates will meet with the Minister of Defense at Yelahanka Air Base outside Bangalore, together with Defense Secretaries of Acquisition and Production. The Federation of India Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has hosted USIBC's delegation, and is the official organizer of Aero-India 2007, India's largest-ever air show.

"The U.S.-India Business Council is pleased to accompany America's finest companies to India, where we can demonstrate our commitment to a long term partnership -- by competing on a level playing field to equip India's aerospace and defense sectors with cutting edge U.S. technology," Ron Somers, President of USIBC, said.

About the U.S.-India Business Council

The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) was formed in 1975 and is today comprised of the top 230 U.S. companies with investment interests in India, joined by the top dozen Indian global companies. The U.S.-India Business Council regularly hosts Indian Government officials and business leaders visiting the United States. The USIBC conducts Executive Missions to India to discuss economic issues important to industry, and provides briefings to U.S. Government officials in support of the growing Indo-U.S. strategic partnership.