Aero India 2025 to begin at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru from today

New Delhi: Aero India 2025, Asia’s biggest air show and aviation exhibition, is set to be inaugurated at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru from Monday with an aim to project the country as a defence manufacturing hub.

A day ahead, in support of aatmanirbharta, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday flew a sortie in the twin-seater trainer version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter aircraft from the Yelahanka Air Force Station. All eyes were glued to the sky as the Air Chief Marshal flew the metal bird with the Army Chief.

For the first time in history, Aero India 2025 will witness the participation of two of the world's most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft — the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 Lightning II. The inclusion of both the Su-57 and F-35 highlights India’s position as a key hub for international defence and aerospace collaboration. The air show will provide a rare side-by-side comparison of the eastern and western fifth-generation fighter technology, offering defence analysts, military personnel and aviation enthusiasts valuable insights into their respective capabilities.

Themed as "The Runway to a Billion Opportunities", the five-day extravaganza will showcase India’s aerial prowess and indigenous cutting-edge innovations alongside state-of-the-art products of global aerospace companies.

“Aero India will demonstrate our defence capabilities and forge global partnerships,” said defence minister Rajnath Singh, who will inaugurate the air show and aviation exhibition on Monday.

Organised in a total area of over 42,000 sqm and with the confirmed participation of over 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies, the event is set to be the biggest-ever Aero India to date.

The defence minister termed the participation of more than 90 countries as a testament to the growing global confidence in India’s aerospace and defence capabilities. “Defence ministers or representatives from about 30 countries have come to participate in this event. The presence of the Air Chiefs and secretaries from 43 countries further highlights the significance of this event, not just for India but for the entire international defence community,” Mr Singh said.

The defence minister asserted that, today, India is not only capable of designing and developing major platforms and equipment within India, but it has also successfully established a vast supply chain within the country.

“Advanced platforms like LCA 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. These achievements have played a crucial role in strengthening our defence sector, making India more self-reliant and secure,” Mr Singh said.

The minister expressed confidence that defence production, having crossed the record figure of `1.27-lakh crores, will exceed `1.60-lakh crores by the end of 2025-26. Defence exports, which touched the record figure of `21,000 crores, he said, will surpass Rs 30,000 crores.

Mr Singh also visited the LCA MK1A production facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru.