LANGKAWI, March 17 — Despite two aircraft crashing during a training session, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA 2015) kicks off today as the largest and premier edition in its 25 years history.
With the participation of 512 companies from 36 countries worldwide and 110 aircraft and 65 ships, LIMA 2015 in its 13th edition of the exhibition reaffirms its position as the leading defence technology in the Asian region.
“With the participation of 512 companies it represents an increase of 18 per cent from the previous edition and we are also eyeing 168,000 trade visitors and the general public,” said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in a press conference aboard the KD Jebat yesterday.
According to him, 70 per cent of the 25 major defence companies in the world and five of the world’s largest helicopter manufacturers will be present at the biennial exhibition on Langkawi, which will be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Hishammuddin said LIMA will also feature local defense companies such as Deftech, Sapura, National Aerospace Defence Industries, Boustead Heavy Industries Corp and MARA Aerotech.
Yesterday, two Jupiter Aerobatic Team aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force crashed at 2.04 pm after grazing each other during a practice session, but the four pilots survived.
Today, the Jupiter team confirmed it had decided to withdraw from the LIMA 2015 exhibition and returned to Indonesia.
This year’s LIMA has not only attracted the largest warships and aircraft in history, it also has the presence of all 10 defence ministers of the Asean member countries, something that has never happened before.
Among the highlights tomorrow is the cross country flight by a new asset, a transport aircraft Atlas A400M, accompanied by Royal Malaysian Air Force fighter aircraft.
Among the conventions to be held during LIMA are ‘Chief of Navy Roundtable Talk’, ‘Air Chief Conference’ and ‘Aviation Summit’. — AFP
