Grand Inauguration and Global Participation

The event was inaugurated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, who emphasised India’s growing role as a key player in global defence cooperation. He highlighted how Aero India 2025 exemplifies the country’s commitment to fostering strategic alliances for a secure and prosperous world.

This year’s edition witnessed a record-breaking participation with over 900 exhibitors, including 150 international companies from more than 90 countries. The exhibition saw the presence of around 30 Defence Ministers and senior representatives from 43 nations, further enhancing the event’s global significance.

Source: IADB

Key Events and Strategic Dialogues

1. Defence Ministers' Conclave

Under the theme ‘BRIDGE – Building Resilience through International Defence and Global Engagement’, the conclave facilitated strategic discussions on strengthening defence ties, developing resilient supply chains and ensuring technological advancements in the defence sector.

2. CEOs’ Roundtable

The CEOs’ Roundtable set a new benchmark with participation from 116 top executives from global defence and aerospace firms. Several landmark collaborations and agreements were announced, including:

• Ultra Maritime and Bharat Dynamics Limited teaming up for advanced co-production initiatives.
• Bharat Forge’s major announcement on indigenous landing gear manufacturing for commercial aircraft.
• Safran (France) and Bharat Electronics Limited forming a partnership for the co-production of the Hammer missile system in India.

3. Bilateral Meetings

On the sidelines of the event, Raksha Mantri held high-level discussions with Defence Ministers from Armenia, Malawi and Madagascar, focusing on boosting defence cooperation, military training and technology transfer to enhance global security partnerships.

Source: IADB

Spectacular Showcases and Exhibitions

India Pavilion: A Display of Self-Reliance

The India Pavilion featured over 275 exhibits, highlighting the nation’s growing prowess in aerospace innovation and defence manufacturing. Key attractions included:

• The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) – a next-generation fighter jet designed for superior combat performance.
• The Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) – showcasing India’s advancements in autonomous warfare.
• The Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) – developed for India’s naval aviation capabilities.

iDEX Pavilion: Fostering Innovation

A dedicated iDEX Pavilion showcased groundbreaking technologies from Indian start-ups and MSMEs, with innovations spanning autonomous systems, unmanned ground vehicles, cyber defence and next-gen avionics. The pavilion also featured winners of the ADITI scheme, reinforcing India's push for indigenous defence technologies.

Notable Firsts at Aero India 2025

For the first time in Aero India’s history, the exhibition featured two cutting-edge fifth-generation fighter aircraft:

Sukhoi Su-57 (Russia) – A highly advanced stealth multirole fighter with superior manoeuvrability.

F-35 Lightning II (USA) – One of the world’s most sophisticated stealth aircraft, integrating AI-driven combat capabilities.

Source: Team DSA

The inclusion of these aircraft underlined India's strategic importance in the global defence ecosystem.

Conclusion

Aero India 2025 was more than just an exhibition; it was a testament to India’s emergence as a global hub for aerospace innovation and defence collaboration. The event reinforced the nation’s vision of achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing, while also strengthening its role in international security partnerships. With unprecedented participation, key technological showcases, and strategic alliances, Aero India 2025 firmly positioned India on the global aerospace map as a leader in innovation, resilience and collaboration.