Aero India 2025 will showcase two fifth-generation fighter aircraft - the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 Lightning II
By Ajai Shukla
9th Feb 2025
The 15th edition of Aero India 2025, Asia’s biggest aerospace and defence exhibition, will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru on February 10, 2025.
Participation of over 900 exhibitors and 90 countries will make it the biggest-ever Aero India. Defence Ministers from 30 countries and over 100 OEMs will attend.
Aero India 2023 was attended by 27 defence ministers and deputy defence ministers and by 15 service chiefs and 12 permanent secretaries.
Historic First – Su-57 and F-35 at Aero India
For the first time ever, Aero India 2025 will showcase two of the world's most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft - the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 Lightning II. This marks a milestone in global defence collaboration and technological advancement, offering aviation enthusiasts and defence experts an unparalleled prospect to witness these state-of-the-art warplanes.
Sukhoi-57: Russia’s premier stealth multirole fighter is designed for superior air superiority and strike capabilities. Equipped with advanced avionics, supercruise capability, and stealth technology, it is making its debut at Aero India 2025. Visitors can expect high-speed aerial manoeuvres and tactical demonstrations that highlight the fighter’s agility, stealth and firepower.
F-35 Lightning II: The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the most widely-deployed fifth-generation fighter, integrates advanced stealth, unparalleled situational awareness and networked combat capabilities. Its presence at Aero India 2025 will enable visitors to witness the flagship of US Air Force.
India’s ministry of defence (MoD) announced: “The inclusion of both the Su-57 and F-35 highlights India’s position as a key hub for international defence and aerospace collaboration. Aero India 2025 will provide a rare side-by-side comparison of Eastern and Western fifth-generation fighter technology, offering defence analysts, military personnel and aviation enthusiasts valuable insights into their respective capabilities.”
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru today, Rajnath Singh described Aero India 2025 as a crucial platform, which will drive forward the Government’s vision of a strong, capable India, secure and self-reliant India.
“Aero India is a platform that showcases the strength, resilience, and self-reliance of New India. It is not just crucial for India’s defence preparedness, but it also plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our nation. It will demonstrate our defence capabilities and forge global partnerships. Our goal is to enhance collaboration in areas of common interest with our friendly nations, fostering deeper cooperation and shared progress. The event is not just a showcase of technology and innovation, but will also serve as a source of inspiration for our youth, fostering scientific temperament and a spirit of innovation,” he said.
Size matters
Organised in a total area of over 42,000 square metres and with the confirmed participation of over 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies, the event is set to be the biggest-ever Aero India till date. Rajnath Singh termed the participation of more than 90 countries as a testament to the growing global confidence in India’s aerospace and defence capabilities.
Highlighting the transformation of India’s defence and aerospace sector in the recent years, Rajnath asserted that, today, India is not only capable of designing and developing major platforms and equipment within India, it has also successfully established a vast supply chain within the country.
“Advanced platforms like Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand and C-295 transport aircraft are now being produced in India. We have also taken a firm resolve to manufacture fifth-generation fighter aircraft within the country. From the advanced variants of the Agni missile, the Astra missile system, and the Pinaka missile system to the cutting-edge Hypersonic missile system and the Akash air defence system, we have built numerous success stories,” he said.
Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that defence production, having crossed the record figure of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, will exceed Rs 1.60 lakh crore by the end of 2025-26. Defence exports, which touched the record figure of Rs 21,000 crore, he said, will surpass Rs 30,000 crore.
The 15th Aero India will be held between 10th and 14th February 2025. February 10th to 12th have been reserved as business days, with 13th & 14th set as public days for people to witness the show.
Aero India 2025 will include a Defence Ministers’ Conclave; CEOs Roundtable; inauguration of India & iDEX Pavilions; Manthan iDEX event and Samarthya Indigenisation event
Defence Ministers’ Conclave
With the aim of strengthening defence cooperation with friendly nations, Rajnath will host a Defence Ministers' Conclave on February 11 in hybrid mode. The theme will be ‘Building Resilience through International Defence and Global Engagement (BRIDGE).
CEOs’ Roundtable
CEOs Roundtable 2025 will be chaired by Rajnath on February 10, on the theme ‘Enabling Defence Cooperation through Global Engagement (EDGE)’. Over 100 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have confirmed their participation.
These include 55 from 19 countries (USA, France, Russia, South Korea, UK, Japan, Israel & Brazil etc), 35 Indian (Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Ltd, Adani Defence & Aerospace, Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd, BrahMos Aerospace & Ashok Leyland Defence) and 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). Shri Rajnath Singh had addressed over 73 CEOs of 28 Foreign OEMs and 45 Indian OEMs in the 2023 edition of the event.
Major foreign OEMs including Airbus (France), Ultra Maritime (USA), GNT (South Korea), John Cockerill Defence (UK), Mitsubishi (Japan), Rafael Advance Defence System (Israel), Safran (France) and Liebherr Aerospace (France) are expected to highlight their future plans, Joint Ventures, collaborations, partnerships with Indian companies for production of spares parts, development of aero-engines, setting up of Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facilities and establishment of R&D facilities etc.
India Pavilion
The India Pavilion will provide an opportunity to Indian defence industries to showcase their design, development, innovation and manufacturing capabilities.
India Pavilion will be divided into five distinct zones displaying indigenous capabilities in aero aviation, land aviation and naval aviation, def-space and niche technologies domains. More than 275 exhibits will be at display through various mediums, represented by complete defence ecosystem of the country which includes DPSUs, design houses, private corporates including MSMEs and start-ups.
The Central Area exhibits will include a striking display of marquee platforms including Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, Combat Air Teaming System, Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter.
iDEX Pavilion
The iDEX Pavilion will showcase cutting-edge indigenously developed products and technologies, marking a significant milestone in India’s defence innovation journey. Leading innovators will display their indigenously-developed products spanning a wide-range of advanced domains including aerospace, DefSpace, aero structures, anti-drone systems, autonomous systems, robotics, communication, cybersecurity, surveillance and tracking, unmanned ground vehicles etc.
The iDEX Pavilion will also feature a dedicated section highlighting the winners of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme, showcasing their ground-breaking work in critical and niche technologies.
iDEX has successfully onboarded over 600 start-ups and MSMEs, marking a significant milestone in fostering innovation. Furthermore, 40 prototypes developed under iDEX have received official clearance for procurement, with 31 procurement contracts worth Rs 1,560 crore already signed.
Manthan
Manthan 2025 will be attended by Rajnath on February 12. Organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence - Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), the event will bring together stakeholders of the defence innovation ecosystem including innovators, industry leaders, academia, incubators, investors, thought leaders, senior government officials etc.
Manthan will deliberate on emerging challenges and opportunities in the sector, with a focus on supporting defence start-ups and MSMEs, enhancing innovation capabilities, and fostering strategic collaborations within the defence ecosystem.
Seminars
A number of seminars on a variety of topics will be organised as part of Aero India 2025. On February 11, Rajnath will address a seminar organised by the Indian Air Force on the theme ‘Manned Unmanned teams for Aerial Warfare - concept to targeting’ and another organised by DRDO on the theme ‘DRDO Industry Synergy towards Viksit Bharat’.
-1.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment