RESEARCH UNIT

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Aero India 2025

A Glimpse into the Future of Aerospace and Defence Innovation
Ministry of Defence

February 8, 2025

Introduction
Aero India, Asia’s Largest Air Show, is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition which is held in
Bengaluru, organized by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Department of Defence Production,
Ministry of Defence. Aero India is India's premier aerospace and defence exhibition where global aero
vendors and the Indian Air Force (IAF) thrill the spectators with back-to-back aerobatic flying displays. It
is a flagship event that brings together global industry leaders, government officials, technology experts,
and defence strategists under one roof. The event not only showcases the nation’s technological prowess
and innovations but also provides a dynamic platform for international cooperation and strategic
dialogue.

The Legacy and Importance of Aero India

Aero India has evolved into a major international event that not only highlights the latest advancements in
aerospace technology but also serves as a critical forum for strategic interactions between domestic and
international stakeholders. The show is a reflection of the nation’s commitment to advancing its aerospace and
defence capabilities. Over the years, Aero India has been instrumental in:
• Showcasing Cutting-Edge Technologies: The event regularly features demonstrations of state-of-
the-art aerospace systems, innovative defence solutions, and breakthrough technologies that are
shaping the future of air and space travel.
• Fostering Strategic Dialogues: Through high-level interactions, Aero India has provided an arena for
discussions on policy, defence collaborations, and the future roadmap of the aerospace sector.
• Enhancing International Partnerships: With participation from global aerospace giants and
defence agencies, the show underscores India’s growing stature as a key player in the international
aerospace community.
This legacy has not only paved the way for the current editions of the event but has also set a high benchmark
for the future. Aero India is more than an exhibition—it is a convergence point of innovation, strategy, and
national pride.

Aero India 2025

Aero India 2025, the 15th edition of Aero India, is designed to be a landmark edition that leverages the
successes of its predecessors while charting new territories in aerospace and defence technology. Aero India
2025 will be held from 10th to 14th February 2025 at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, Karnataka,
India. The first three days are dedicated to business visitors, while the last two days are open to the general
public.

The broad theme is ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’.

Events at Aero India 2025

The five-day event comprises a curtain raiser event, inaugural event, Defence Ministers’ Conclave,
CEOs’ Round-Table, iDEX start-up event, breath-taking air shows, a large exhibition area comprising
India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies.
• To facilitate dialogue towards strategic partnership with friendly countries, India will host the Defence
Ministers’ Conclave on the theme ‘BRIDGE -Building Resilience through International Defence
 and Global Engagement’. It encapsulates the dynamic geopolitical conditions and the path to mutual
prosperity, which can be BRIDGED through cooperation among nations with shared vision of security
and development.

• A number of bilateral meetings are planned at the levels of Raksha Mantri, Raksha Rajya Mantri,
Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary among others on the sidelines of the event. The focus will be on
bolstering the defence and aerospace ties with friendly countries by exploring newer avenues to take
the partnership to the next level.
• The CEOs’ Round-Table is expected to provide a favourable platform to foreign Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs) for manufacturing in India. Global CEOs, CMDs of domestic PSUs and
premier private defence & aerospace manufacturing companies from India will be participating in the
event.
• The India Pavilion will showcase India’s commitment to its Make-in-India initiative by showcasing
indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and cutting-edge technologies ready for the global
stage, including the future prospects. Promotion of Indian start-ups is a focus area at Aero India 2025
and a wide spectrum of state-of-the-art technologies/products developed by them will be showcased at
an exclusive iDEX pavilion.
• In addition, dynamic aerobatic displays and live technology demonstrations will provide an
immersive experience, showcasing the potential of modern aerospace platforms and technologies. A
number of seminars on various important themes are also planned as part of the event.
Aero India 2023: A Retrospective Analysis

The previous editions of Aero India played a critical role in laying the groundwork for the continued evolution
of India’s aerospace and defence landscape. The 14th edition of Aero India 2023 was held from 13th–17th
February at Bengaluru, Karnataka and has been the largest ever edition since its inception in 1996 with
more than 100 countries, 809 exhibitors, first ever Fly past with 53 aircrafts showcasing our airpower to
global attendees and a total footfall of 7+ lakh visitors over five days. Aero India 2023 was characterized
by a series of significant milestones and impactful demonstrations. Key aspects of the 2023 edition were:
• Showcasing Advanced Aerospace Technologies: The 2023 event provided a platform for companies
to display state-of-the-art aerospace systems and defence solutions. This not only demonstrated
technological innovation but also set the stage for future advancements in the field.
• Facilitating Strategic Engagements: Aero India 2023 was instrumental in bringing together a diverse
group of stakeholders, including government officials, industry experts, and international delegations.
The event fostered an environment of strategic dialogue that focused on collaborative ventures and
technological partnerships.
• Strengthening India’s Global Position: By successfully hosting a comprehensive and well-
coordinated exhibition, Aero India 2023 reinforced India’s commitment to advancing its aerospace
capabilities. The show also underscored the country’s readiness to engage with global partners in
driving forward the next wave of aerospace innovation.

The successes and challenges of Aero India 2023 have provided valuable lessons that are being incorporated
into the planning and execution of Aero India 2025. The focus on operational excellence, international
collaboration, and technological innovation—elements that were prominently on display in 2023—serve as
the cornerstone for the upcoming edition. The forward momentum generated by the previous edition is
expected to translate into even greater achievements in 2025, with enhanced protocols, refined strategies, and
an expanded global participation footprint.
Events at Aero India 2023
The event comprised of a Defence Ministers’ Conclave; a CEOs Round Table; Manthan start-up event;
Bandhan ceremony; breath-taking air shows; a large exhibition; India Pavilion and a trade fair of
aerospace companies.

Major exhibitors & equipment

The major exhibitors included Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace
Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro,
Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited.

Aero India 2023 showcased design leadership and growth in UAVs Sector, Defence Space and futuristic
technologies. The event aimed to promote export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and
Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).

Defence Ministers’ Conclave

Defence Ministers’ Conclave was held on 14th February 2023. Defence Ministers of friendly foreign
countries participated in the meeting, which was organised on the theme ‘Shared Prosperity through
Enhanced Engagements in Defence (SPEED)’. The conclave addressed aspects related to deepen
cooperation for capacity building (through investments, R&D, joint venture, co-development, co-production
and provisioning of defence equipment), training, space, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and maritime security to
grow together. The conclave was an opportunity for the defence ministers to engage with each other to carry
forward the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision.

Bilateral meetings
On the sidelines of Aero India 2023, a number of bilateral meetings were held at the levels of Raksha
Mantri, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief of Defence Staff and Defence Secretary among others. The focus
was on bolstering the defence & aerospace ties with friendly countries by exploring newer avenues to take the
partnership to the next level.
CEOs Round Table
The ‘CEOs Round Table’, under the chairmanship of the Raksha Mantri, was held on 13th February 2023,
on the theme ‘Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries.’ It laid the foundation of a more robust
interaction between the Industry Partners and Government with an eye on bolstering the ‘Make in India’
campaign.

The Round Table witnessed participation from officials, delegates and global CEOs from 26 countries
including global investors such as Boeing, Lockheed, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics,
Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI) etc.
Domestic PSUs like HAL, BEL, BDL, BEML Limited and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited also participated.

Bandhan ceremony
The Bandhan ceremony, which witnessed signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)/Agreements,
Transfer of Technologies, Product Launches and other major announcements, was held on February
15th. A concerted effort was made towards forging B2B partnerships at the Bandhan ceremony and more
than 250 such partnerships with a total value of more than Rs 75,000 crore have been finalized.

Manthan
The annual defence innovation event, Manthan, was the flagship technology showcase event held on
15th February. Organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the Manthan platform will bring
the leading innovators, start-ups, MSMEs, incubators, academia and Investors from defence & aerospace
ecosystem under one roof.

Manthan had many firsts, including launch of challenges on Cyber Security, establishment of iDEX Investor
Hub, MoUs with investors etc. Manthan 2023 provided an overview on the future vision/next initiatives of
iDEX to galvanise the start-up ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in the defence
sector.

India Pavilion
The India Pavilion, based on ‘Fixed Wing Platform’ theme, showcased India’s growth in the area, including
the future prospects. There was a total of 115 companies, displaying 227 products. It further showcased the
growth of India in developing an ecosystem for Fixed Wing platform which includes the demonstration of
various structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs) etc. of LCA-Tejas aircraft being produced by Private
Partners. There was also be a section for Defence space, New Technologies and a UAV section which will
give an insight about the growth of India in each sector.

A full scale LCA-Tejas aircraft in Full Operational Capability (FOC) configuration was at the center
stage of India Pavilion. LCA Tejas is a single engine, light weight, highly agile, multi-role supersonic fighter.
It has quadruplex digital fly-by-wire Flight Control System (FCS) with associated advanced flight control
laws. The aircraft with delta wing is designed for ‘air combat’ and ‘offensive air support’ with
‘reconnaissance’ and ‘anti-ship’ as its secondary roles.

Seminars
A number of seminars were held during the five-day event. The themes included Harnessing Potential of Ex-
servicemen for Indian Defence Industry; India’s Defence Space Initiative: Opportunities for shaping Indian
private space ecosystem; Indigenous development of futuristic aerospace technologies, including aero
engines; Destination Karnataka: US-India defence cooperation innovation and Make in India; Advancement
in maritime surveillance equipment and assets; sustenance in MRO and Obsolescence Mitigation and
achieving excellence in defence grade drones and Aatmanirbharta in Aero Armament Sustenance.

Major Agreements at Aero India 2023

• MoU between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Safran Helicopter Engines, France for Work Share
for formation of Joint venture for Design, Development, Manufacture and life time support of
Helicopter Engines.
• MoU between Bharat Electronics Ltd and Aeronautical Development Agency on IWBC and Other
LRUs for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
• Co-operation between BSS Material Limited and Pegasus Engineering, an ADUSEA Inc. Division
(USA) for Logistic Drones for the Indian Army towards Last Mile Delivery for forward troops
deployed along the border areas with capability of operation in wind/gust condition, rain/Snow etc.
• MoU between Gopalan Aerospace India Pvt. Ltd. and Omnipol, Czech Republic for manufacturing
and assembling of 1st passenger aircraft (L 410 UVP-E20 version) by a private company in India.
• MoU on collaboration of Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited (SDEPL) & Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI) for IDEX Challenge “Autonomous Weaponized boat Swarm” for Indian Navy.
• MoU between Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bultexpro Ltd., Bulgaria for setting up the
manufacturing facilities for 122mm GRAD BM ER and NONER rockets in India and fulfill the
requirements (including ToT).
• MoU between GRSE and Rolls-Royce Solutions GmbH (MTU) for License production with
localization of the MTU 16V4000M73L engine to support the indigenous content for the Next
Generation Fast Attack Craft vessel for Indian Navy.
• BEML enters into License Agreement for Transfer of Technology (ToT) with R&DEE, DRDO for
development and supply of TRAWL Assembly for T-72/T-90 Tanks.
• ToT of Shakti EW System from DLRL DRDO to BEL Hyderabad Unit for all system units, Bill of
Material, Test procedures, integration & offering methodology.
• MoU between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Elta Systems Limited, Israel for cooperation on
future Business in Maritime Patrol Radar (MPR) for Indian Platforms.

Products Showcased at Aero India 2023

• Vertically Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (Bharat Dynamics Limited): VLSRSAM is
a next-generation, ship-based, all-weather, air defence weapon which can be used by Navy as a quick
reaction point defence against supersonic sea skimming targets like aircraft and UAVs. The Missile
has a smokeless propulsion system with all-weather capability. It has a highly agile configuration with
state-of-the-art Electronic Counter-Counter Measures features.
• SAL Seeker ATGM for BMP II (Bharat Dynamics Limited): Semi-Active Laser Seeker based Anti-
Tank Guided Missile for BMP-II is a subsonic missile with a range of 4,000 metres and flight time of
25 seconds. The missile weighs 23 kgs with the launch tube and can be used in different kinds of
terrains to incapacitate the moving and stationary targets such as tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles.
• Jishnu (Bharat Dynamics Limited): Jishnu, a Drone Delivered Missile, is light weight and
miniaturised missile targeted for soft-skinned targets. It has a range of 1.5 km with a flight time of 9
seconds. The missile can be semi-automatic or completely autonomous based on the systems
configurations.
• Software defined NAVIC/GPS receiver module based on indigenously-developed
processors (Astra Microwave Products Limited).
• Indigenously-built ‘Counter Drone Radar’ based on technology from DRDO (Astra Microwave
Products Limited).
• 9 mm sub-sonic ammunition (Munitions India Limited).
 • BFT on Ios (ideaForge Technology Limited): BlueFire Touch BlueFire Touch, our Ground Control
Station (GCS) software, is built to plan and command both mapping and surveillance missions with
the ability to pre-plan missions based on operational area and target locations via waypoint-based
navigation.
• HF SDR Radio (Bharat Electronics Limited): It is an advanced software defined radio. The radio is
lightweight 20 W transmit capable radio. It provides a complete solution to the short-range
communication requirements in the crowded HF band and long-range communications beyond line of
sight.
• Goniometer (Bharat Electronics Limited): It is part of any integrated observation and fire control
monitoring system for day time or night time use by the Artillery.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Aerospace and Defence in India

Aero India has always been more than just an exhibition—it is a strategic imperative that underscores India’s
commitment to becoming a global leader in aerospace and defence. The event plays a pivotal role in:
• Driving Technological Advancements: By bringing together innovators and industry leaders, Aero
India acts as a catalyst for the development and deployment of next-generation aerospace systems.
• Enhancing National Security: The technologies and strategies showcased at the event contribute
directly to enhancing India’s defence capabilities, ensuring that the nation remains well-prepared to
address contemporary and future security challenges.
• Strengthening Economic Growth: Beyond defence, the advancements in aerospace have far-reaching
implications for economic growth, industrial development, and technological self-reliance.

Conclusion: Embracing the Future with Aero India

Aero India stands as a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to innovation, strategic collaboration,
and excellence in aerospace and defence. As the nation prepares to host Aero India 2025, the event promises
to build on the rich legacy of previous editions—most notably, the transformative Aero India 2023. Through
rigorous operational protocols, strategic partnerships, and a forward-thinking agenda, Aero India 2025 is
poised to further elevate India’s profile on the global aerospace stage.

Annexure
1. Broad Programme of Aero India: https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/assets/front/broad_programme.pdf
2. List of Seminars: https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/assets/front/seminar_list.pdf
3. List of Invited Speakers: https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/assets/front/speakers_list.pdf
4. Visitor Registration: https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/visitor-registration
References
https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/
https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/faq
https://www.aeroindia.gov.in/whyexhibit
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1899388
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2091447
https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/resources/photos/aero-india
https://x.com/aeroindiashow?lang=en
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1898547
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2090516
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1989502
https://x.com/MIB_India/status/1887124348617760992
https://x.com/AeroIndiashow/status/1887371647331516549
https://x.com/MIB_India/status/1886725544823415252
https://x.com/AeroIndiashow/status/1887050312281641266
https://x.com/AeroIndiashow/status/1869024504485208160/photo/1
https://x.com/AeroIndiashow/status/1849117379852132485/photo/1
https://x.com/AeroIndiashow/status/1626582275365441537/photo/3
https://x.com/AeroIndiashow/status/1626530283892903936/photo/1
https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/resources/photos/aero-india

Santosh Kumar | Sarla Meena | Rishita Aggarwal