Aero India 2025 gets off to a spectacular start in Bengaluru

Indian Air Force fighter jets perform during the final rehearsal ahead of Aero India 2025, at Air Force station in Bengaluru on February 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The 15th edition of the biennial Aero India was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka on Monday (February 10, 2025).

The inaugural of the five-day event also saw a flypast comprising various aircraft.

The Air Display commenced with an AN 32 dropping the Akash Ganga skydiving team followed by the Dhwaj formation with three Mi 17 helicopters, Tejas formation with three LCA MK1, the Bhim formation with Light Utility Helicopters, Rakshak formation of Dornier aircraft, the Drona formation with one AN 32 and two Dornier, the Yodha formation of LCA MK1A, Varuna formation with one P8I two MiG-29’s and two Hawk, Saathi formation with one C-130 and two C-29, Arjuna formation with five Jaguars, Netra formation with one Netra aircraft and two Su-30s, Shakti formation with Rafale one and one Su-30 and the Trishul with three Su-30. 

First three day open to business visitors

The first three days of Aero India are dedicated to business visitors, while the last two days are open to the general public.

The five-day event comprises Defence Ministers’ Conclave, CEOs’ Round-Table, iDEX start-up event, aerial displays, a large exhibition area comprising India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies.

Aero India 2025 will be organised in a total area of over 42,000 sqm and with the confirmed participation of over 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies.

During the last edition of the airshow in 2023 there were 809 exhibitors, businesses, investors, start-ups, and MSMEs and more than seven lakh visitors attended the event.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during the inauguration of Aero India 2025 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru on February 10, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Biggest ever Aero India

Organisers said that the event is set to be the biggest-ever Aero India till date.

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.

The Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team also performed at the inauguration.