Context: Recently, the 15th edition of the biennial Aero India (10th to 14th February 2025) was inaugurated by Defence Minister at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru.
- This is a five-day event, the first three days are dedicated to business visitors, while the last two days are open to the general public.
- Beginning as a small air show in 1996, Aero India has evolved into Asia’s largest aerospace event, shaping India’s defense future and establishing its position as a global leader in aerospace and security.
About the Event
- The air show organised in a total area of over 42,000 sq. m. and with the confirmed participation of more than 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies.
- Among the aircraft which will be on display are the fifth-generation fighter jets of Russia, the SU-57 and the F-35 from the U.S., the KC-135 Stratotanker, B-1B Lancer and the multi-mission transport aircraft KC-390 Millennium from Brazil.
- For the first time in history, Aero India 2025, witnessed 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.
- Among the Indian aircraft and helicopters which will participate in the show are the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, HJT 36, Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40), and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) among others.
- A functional full-scale engineering demonstrator of the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is also being showcased for the first time, along with a full-scale model of India’s fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
- Among the aerobatic display teams, only the nine-aircraft Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) is participating in the air show.
- The Indian Air Force’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team, which has showcased their formation aerobatics for the last two decades, is unlikely to participate this time due to the grounding of the ALH Dhruv helicopter.