India is set to make a significant appearance at the El Alamein International Airshow 2026, with the Indian Air Force’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team showcasing the country’s growing indigenous aerospace and defence capabilities in Egypt.
The airshow will take place from 8-10 September at El Alamein International Airport, bringing together international aerospace and defence companies, military delegations and aviation enthusiasts.
Sarang will perform using India’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, offering audiences a demonstration of one of the country’s key domestically developed helicopter platforms.
India’s participation comes as the country continues to expand domestic defence manufacturing under its “Self-Reliant India” strategy. Domestic production now meets around 65% of India’s annual defence equipment requirements, while Indian defence products are exported to more than 80 countries.
The country has developed capabilities across a wide range of defence sectors, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, warships, submarines, missiles, artillery, air-defence systems, radars, electronic warfare, drones and counter-drone technologies.
India’s defence transformation has also been accompanied by a growing role for private companies and start-ups. Private-sector firms account for approximately 24% of total defence production, while more than 2,000 defence start-ups are developing technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, drone swarms, robotics, electronic warfare, advanced sensors, secure communications and quantum technologies.
Indian participation at El Alamein also comes against the backdrop of expanding defence ties between India and Egypt, which have developed over more than six decades through military training, institutional exchanges, joint exercises and high-level defence engagements.
In December 2025, India’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, visited Egypt at the invitation of the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force. The 11th meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee was subsequently held in Cairo in April 2026, where the two sides agreed on a Defence Cooperation Plan for 2026-27.
Military cooperation has continued to expand through exercises. India deployed more than 700 personnel from its Army, Navy and Air Force for Egypt’s multinational Exercise Bright Star in 2025, marking its largest-ever participation in the exercise.
The two countries have also strengthened Special Forces cooperation through Exercise Cyclone, whose fourth edition was held in Cairo in April 2026.
Beyond the airshow, India’s expanding defence industry could create opportunities for deeper industrial cooperation with Egypt in areas including helicopters and aerospace, drones and counter-drone systems, air defence, electronic warfare, maritime surveillance, autonomous systems, sensors, secure communications, and maintenance, repair and overhaul.
The Indian presence at El Alamein is therefore expected to serve as both an aviation showcase and an opportunity to highlight the growing depth of India-Egypt defence relations, while opening further avenues for cooperation in defence production, technology and aerospace.
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