WASHINGTON — Organizers taking part in the biannual Paris Air Show expect an increase in the US presence at Le Bourget, but said there are no plans for Pentagon aircraft to perform.
The organizers also noted that the F-35 joint strike fighter is unlikely to make its international debut at the show, which runs June 15- through June 21.
Tom Kallman, president and CEO of Kallman Worldwide, said the US pavilion at the show will be bested only by the local French pavilion, with an expected 10 percent increase the pavilion's size from 2013.
"Far and away we are the backbone of the event," Kallman said of the US presence, with over 250 exhibitors expected.
As the US was in the midst of a sequestration-related travel freeze during the last show, there will also be a dramatic increase in the number of Pentagon officials attending. While a list of government officials coming to the show will not be available before May, Kallman noted that Florida Gov. Rick Scott is currently planning to attend.
However, while the US will have a strong presence, it will be a static one. The organizers said that there are no plans to fly any of the US aircraft that will be in attendance, including the F-16 and F/A-18.
The organizers confirmed that Northrop Grumman will not attend would not be attending the show, which Gilles Fournier, managing director of the show, said is in line with previous general air shows, such as like Farnborough.
"The president of Northrop three years ago decided to skip any general air show and to concentrate on regional air shows like Dubai or Singapore, considering he goes where the business is," Fournier said. "This is a decision of Northrop, which is alone in that kind of decision to skip the general air show."
Emeric d'Arcimoles, chief executive and chairman of the show, said he hoped the F-35 joint strike fighter would make its first international exhibition at Paris, a year after its planned debut at Farnborough was scuttled due to concerns following an engine fire. But he is realistic about the chances of that happening.
"Why not, for the first time outside the US, the F-35 in Le Bourget?" asked d'Arcimoles excitedly. "Why not? That is a good question, but I think is not possible because I think it is a lot of money."
Industry watchers have said the F-35 debut will likely come next year at Farnborough, a reward to the United Kingdom for its loyalty to the program when it was going through the worst of its cost overruns.
Despite ongoing strains between France and Russia about France's decision to withhold delivery of two Mistral-class ships to Russia, Russian industry will be present at the show.
"They are invited. They said they are coming," d'Arcimoles said. However, "we have no information as to what aircraft are coming."
Email: amehta@defensenews.com
Twitter: @AaronMehta
Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.
