Airshow kicks off tomorrow

Workers unloading a model of the Saab RBS15 F-ER missile for the annual airshow which starts tomorrow. In the background is a full-scale mockup of the Eurofighter Typhoon. 

Pic by Shahrizal Md Noor

LANGKAWI: The 11th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2011 takes off tomorrow.

The exhibition is the premier destination for aerospace and maritime manufacturers targeting the Asia Pacific growth markets.

For nearly 22 years, the exhibition has been serving exhibitor needs by assembling key decision makers from the defence, enforcement and civil sectors.

Since its inception in 1991, Lima has gone from strength to strength.

From 150 companies in 1991, it attracted more than 450 companies from 25 countries with almost RM5 billion worth of business generated in the last exhibition held in 2009.

It has now become one of the world's premier aerospace exhibitions.

Lima 2009 attracted nearly 400 leading defence companies representing 60 countries, with 38,000 trade visitors, 400 trade journalists and 210 delegations attending.

This year, major aircraft and shipbuilders that have already confirmed their participation at Lima include Airbus Industrie, Boeing, Dassault, Gulfstream, Embraer, Saab, Sukhoi, Eurocopter, Agusta Westland, Sikorsky, Bell Helicopters, Fincantieri, Daewoo Shipbuilding, Navantia, Damen Shipyard, Blohm and Voss, Lurssen, Goa Shipyard and DCNS.

Among the highlights are the Gulfstream G45 Business Jet, Bombardier, Cessna Caravan, Airbus A400M, Sukhoi Su-30MKM, F/A-18D Hornet, F/A-18 F Super Hornet, MiG-29N, Super Lynx, Augusta A109, Mi-17 search and rescue helicopter, Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing AH-64 attack helicopter and many more.

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