AERO INDIA 2025 CONCLUDES: A KALIEDOSCOPE OF SELF-RELIANCE AND STEALTH FIGHTERS!

The 15^th edition of Aero India, ‘Aero India 2025’ (AI-25) was held from February 10 to February 14, 2025, at Yelahanka Air Force Base, Bengaluru (the venue for all previous editions of Aero India, from 1966).

The airshow, held biennially, has held sway as Asia’s largest and arguably most significant airshow, and a global red-letter aviation expo. This status is significantly attributable to India’s growing stature as a regional heavyweight and a global player in the military industry.

The previous edition, in 2023, was launched with the slogan of “Runway to a Billion Opportunities”, signifying its importance as a global defence participation/acquisition platform, with over 100 participant Nations.  Promotion of startups was one of the primary focus areas of that event.

AI-25 was inaugurated by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri (RM) of India, Shri Rajnath Singh, who stated that the allocation of Rs 6.81 lakh crore to MoD in Union Budget 2025-26, is proof of the importance accorded to the Defence sector. Like before, 75% of the modernisation budget has been reserved for domestic procurement, aimed at widening the capabilities of India’s Defence Industrial Complex. AI-25 outdid its predecessor in most areas. It has been the largest-ever edition of the event, featuring over 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign vendors from over 90 participating countries, and a footfall of approximately 7 lakh visitors! Prominently, the event was attended by 26 Defence Ministers, close to 120 CEOs (which included heads of foreign manufacturing firms), and Defence Chiefs and Secretaries from over 40 countries- thus facilitating an interface for high-level discussions on Defence and security and laying a platform for forging several big-ticket deals.

 Akin to the previous edition, AI-25 was also guided by the broad paradigm of “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”, with the aim of ‘providing a platform for forging partnerships between foreign & Indian firms and the discovery of newer avenues in the global value chain to accelerate the indigenisation process’[i].

The first three days of the premium airshow were exclusively for business attendees, while the last two days were open to the general public. Flying displays were scheduled on all days.

The flypasts notably included the Tejas Formation of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1, which incidentally included the Indian Chief of Air Staff as one of the pilots, the Dhwaj  Formation of Mi-17 helicopters flying the Indian Flag flanked by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and AI-25 Flags, the Bhim Team consisting of Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) flying in the VIC (‘V’) Formation, promoting Atmanirbharta, the Varuna Formation of one P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), two Mig-29K Fighter Aircraft and two BAE Hawk-132 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT), the Saathi Formation of one C-130 Super Hercules strategic lift aircraft and two C-295 transport aircraft -the latter now being indigenously produced, the Shakti  Formation of one Rafale Multi-Role Combat Aircraft and two Su-30 MKI (an all-women fighter-pilot team, proudly exemplifying ‘Nari Shakti’-a theme also exemplified by the Drona Formation of AN-32 and Dornier 228 STOL aircraft, with a woman pilot as the team leader), Trishul Formation of three Su-30 MKI, which formed a ‘Trishul’ of contrails in the sky over AI-25, among others! The flying displays saw the IAF’s Suryakiran Aerobatics Team flying Hawk AJT performing breathtaking aerobatic manoeuvers.

Among the foreign aircraft, the Russian Su-57 Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and the US F-35 Lightning-II FGFA demonstrated their manoeuver envelope, showcasing the capabilities of the pilots as well as the machines. The US B-1B Lancer Strategic Bomber also took part in the flying and static displays. Also exhibited was the US Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker  Air-to-Air Refueller/Strategic Airlift aircraft.

The Akash Ganga skydiving team of IAF also performed at the airshow, proudly displaying the Indian Tricolour during their sky-diving demonstration.

[i] Government of India, MoD Press Release dated 06 January 2025.

IAF’s Suryakiran Aerobatic Team performing at Aero India 2025:Source-firstpost.com

AI-25 also witnessed the Defence Ministers’ Conclave, chaired by the Hon’ble RM. The conclave was guided by the theme BRIDGE-‘Building Resilience through International Defence and Global Engagement’, exemplifying mutual prosperity through cooperation among Nations with a shared vision of security and development[i]. The RM, while addressing the CEO’s roundtable, urged the CEOs of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to utilise the opportunities offered by the Indian Defence ecosystem, which is driven by the policy of self-reliance and presents a conducive policy regime for such participation. A number of bilateral meetings were also planned at the levels of the RM, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Defence Secretary, among others, which were focussed on bolstering Defence/aerospace ties with friendly foreign countries.

The India Pavilion at AI-25 featured innovative technologies and participation from established companies and startups, showcasing India’s self-reliance in present and future growth of aerospace technology. As a subset of this pavilion, the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Pavilion, as before, highlighted innovations in aviation technology, Defence systems, and indigenous manufacturing efforts, promoting collaboration and investment in the Defence sector. Selected private manufacturers/startups and Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) were felicitated by the RM for successfully developing products/technologies for the Armed Forces, thus aptly recognising the contribution of Indian industry.

Pavilions of participant foreign countries including the US Partnership Pavilion, displayed various state-of-the-art products/technologies.

HIGHLIGHTS OF TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATED /AGREEMENTS FORGED AT AI-25

More than 400 products were displayed, including aircraft components, communication and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, manned/unmanned aircraft, weapons & missile systems, and simulators. While it would not be feasible to cover all products displayed and collaborations forged during AI-25, this article attempts to spotlight a representative cross-section of these efforts on display at the expo.

India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and DRDO showcased a full-scale model of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) FGFA. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had accorded approval in 2024 for design/development of the AMCA under a Rs. 15,000 Crore budget. As per DRDO, the AMCA would emerge as a 5.5 Generation fighter, with world-matching technology, including advanced stealth, cutting-edge situational awareness, AI-powered Electronic Pilot for advanced decision-making, Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) with UAVs, and network-centric warfare capabilities. The AMCA prototype is scheduled for completion by 2027, with the first flight in 2028 and production/deliveries commencing by 2036. The initial series production aircraft would mount the US GE F-414 Engines, with later aircraft possibly mounting an indigenous 110-120 kN engine designed/developed by India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment, in collaboration with Safran and/or Rolls Royce.

[i] Ibid.

AMCA at AI-25:Source-msn.com

With US President Donald Trump promising to pave the way for India to purchase the F-35 Lightning-II, it was up to Rosoboronexport, Russia’s State-owned Defence exports company, to offer to partner with India for joint production of the Su-57 Felon FGFA. Rosoboronexport, together with the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the manufacturer of the Su-57, proposes to  ‘localise’ production of the FGFA in India at HAL’s Nashik plant, as early as this year. As a further incentive, Russia has also proposed to offer upgrades for the Su-57 and provide critical technologies including power-pack, AESA radar, electro-optical payloads, AI, communication and aerial weapons to catalyse the AMCA program. This comes in the wake of the protracted timelines of the MRFA Program, which envisages delivery of 114 4+ Generation fighters, the RFP of which is yet to be issued.

Russian Su-57 Parked in the Foreground While US F-35 Takes Off at AI-25:Source-thehindu.com

HAL confirmed a Rs. 1.3 Lac Crore order by the IAF within the next six months for 97 Tejas Mark-1A LCA (in addition to the ongoing tranche of 83 LCA Mark-1A by 2029), as part of the IAF’s overall procurement of 180 aircraft, to be supplied by the first half of the next decade. Also included are 156 Prachand Multi-Role Attack Helicopters-currently undergoing operational trials. Apropos, HAL plans to revamp production efficiency to 24 and then 32 LCA per year soon. The LCA Mark-1A  presents significant advancements over its predecessor variant, with improved avionics, advanced AESA radar and greater weapon-integration capability. The LCA Mark-II will feature increased indigenization, including the integration of the Uttam AESA radar and the Astra Air-to-Air Missile/Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons.

LCA Mark-II with AMCA in the Background:Source-defencexp.com

The Indian Navy (IN) also launched its vision document, ‘Aatmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation: Technological Roadmap 2047.’ The Service eagerly awaits the production and induction of the Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) to augment its fleet air-arm, in face of its aging MiG-29K fleet ( read more @ https://chanakyaforum.com/indias-quest-for-an-indigenous-naval-fighter/ ). The ADA, while displaying a scaled model of the TEDBF for the IN, clarified that the program is envisaged to be presented before the CCS for final sanction by 2027.

HAL further unveiled the now-renamed Hindustan Jet Trainer (HJT-36), ‘Yashas’, after extensive modifications to resolve avionics deficits including spin resistance, thereby achieving significant capability enhancement.

HAL and French aviation company Safran unveiled the Aravalli aero-engine at the Defence Expo. The engine has been chosen to power the upcoming 13-ton Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) designed by HAL. Designed for both land and maritime use (the latter referring to the 12.5-ton Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter [DBMRH]), the Aravalli engine sports high-efficiency, power and durability.

HAL also exhibited the advanced variant of the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) WarriorUnmanned Aerial System (UAS) for the IAF/IN. This UAS, first unveiled at Aero India 2021, will operate as part of MUMT with fighter aircraft as an autonomous/controlled Loyal Wingman (LW). It can be launched from land, aircraft carriers and aerial platforms such as Tejas LCA , Su-30 MKI and Jaguar aircraft. The UAS would have a range of 350 Km from launch, a max take-off weight of 2100 Kg and a cruising speed of 790 Kmph, and will be capable of undertaking strike/reconnaissance/surveillance operations.

CATS Warrior:Source-defencedirecteducation.com

The IN has shortlisted a Bengaluru-based firm, NewSpace Research and Technologies NRT) to develop a future Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV), for MUMT. The N-CCAV will be based on an existing CCAV-the jet-powered, low RCS Abhimanyu, which has a range of 1000 Km, an endurance of 20 hours and a max speed of 550 Kmph The N-CCAV will be a multi-role LW, performing Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as EW and kinetic strike tasks.  The N-CCAV is expected to be a LW to the MiG 29K, the Rafale-M (Maritime) and could also possibly work alongside the P-8I MPA. NRT also showcased the Sheshnaag  Unmanned Swarming System series, designed to operate in homogenous/heterogenous  swarms for kinetic strike/saturation attacks, EW/ISR and associated operations over ranges in excess of 1000 Km. The Sheshnaag utilises collaborative autonomy  for optimal distribution of assigned tasks over a swarm and is an essential component of NRT’s Fused Teaming With Uncrewed Rapid Effects multi-domain combat paradigm, focussed on integration of unmanned systems for rapid effects. NRT also displayed rotorwing UCAVs at the expo.

Abhimanyu CCA, at AI-25:Source-twz.com

Bengaluru-based Q-Alpha Aerospace showcased a scaled-down model of the RHH-150 Air-Breathing Variable-Range Hypersonic Swarm Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The AI-enabled  UCAV, capable of flying at Mach 10, is difficult to intercept and is designed for reconnaissance, strike and support roles. Its combat range of 3600 Km enables short-range strike/long-range reconnaissance missions. The air-breathing capability of the UCAV allows for loitering, for persistent surveillance and strike. An array of eight UCAV concepts were showcased  by the company at AI-25.

UCAV Array Displayed by Q-Alpha Aerospace at AI-25:Source-thedefensenews.com

ideaForge showcased its UAV platforms including NETRA 5- a compact, AI-enabled UAV designed for real-time ISR and capable of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-compromised operations; SWITCH V2-multi-role hybrid UAV designed for deep ISR/military mapping; Tactical UAV (Concept)-for ISR up to ranges of 80 Km, with swarming capabilities, GNSS-compromised navigation and AI-enabled operation; and the Logistics UAV (Concept)- an autonomous fixed-wing craft capable of take-off/landing at 6500m with a weight-range configurable payload.

NETRA 5:Source-ideaforgetech.com

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) unveiled the Advanced Loitering System. This 250 Km-range Loitering Munition (LM) is designed specifically for long-range, stand-off precision strikes in high-altitude and can operate from Advanced Landing Grounds/in GNSS-compromised environments. TASL also unveiled a passive exoskeleton system for soldiers, to increase personal combat efficiency.

TASL’s ALS:Source-reddit.com

Dynauton Systems, a subsidiary of Dynamatic Technologies Ltd, showcased India’s first jet-powered LM, ‘Kaatil’. The autonomous, precision-strike, fire-and-forget LM is capable of catapult/conventional runway take-off and can achieve speeds of 600 Kmph with a max take-off weight of 12 Kg-thus offering greater response times and quicker engagement speeds. It can operate in GNSS-denied environments. The LM’s CeP of merely 2m makes it a leader in accuracy and ensures minimal collateral damage. It is capable of terrain-hugging flight and incorporates an anti-drone sensor suite.

Bengaluru-based drone manufacturer Scandron displayed the Cargo Max 20KHC Logistics Drone with a 200kg payload capacity. The drone is purported to be a fully autonomous Aerial Logistics Platform that offers pilotless operations, an operational range of 15km, and an operational ceiling of 6000m AMSL, making it ideally suited for operations along India’s high-altitude borders.

Cargo Max 20KHC Logistics Drone:Source-maritimegateway.com

India’s Adani Defence & Aerospace, in collaboration with DRDO, unveiled a Vehicle-Mounted Counter-Drone System. Integrated onto a single 4×4 vehicle, it features a high-energy laser system for precise drone neutralization, a 7.62 mm gun for aerial threat engagement, advanced radar, SIGINT, electro-optical sensors and jammers for real-time, automatic acquisition/ tracking/neutralisation of drones up to 10 Km.

Adani Counter-Drone System:Source-thehansindia.com

DRDO, in collaboration with Adani Defence & Aerospace and BDL, unveiled the UAV-Launched Extended-Range Munition (ULMER). The 12.5 Kg fire-and-forget ULMER has a day-range of 4Km and a night-range of 2.5 Km and mounts an IR seeker and passive homing for round-the-clock operations.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense have announced a joint venture for indigenous manufacture of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Smart Precision Air-to-Ground Weapon. The HAMMER is a next-generation, modular, precision-guided munition (PGM) against critical stationary/moving targets, and can be launched from a variety of fighter aircraft platforms of the IAF.

HAMMER PGM:Source-blogger.googleusercontent.com

DRDO showcased a new VHF-Band surveillance radar (VHF-SR). The radar, which is shortly due for field trials, can simultaneously detect/track 100 low radar cross-section (RCS) stealth targets over ranges up to 400 Km. DRDO also displayed its new multimode, multifunctional Virupaksha AESA Air Intercept Radar (AIR), designed for the Su-30 MKI upgrade program.  The AIR can simultaneously detect/measure the range, azimuth, elevation, and relative velocity of the intended target. The high-resolution AIR can operate simultaneously in air-to-air/ground/sea, close combat and navigation modes. The radar is integrated with advanced electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) to enable effective operations in an electronically saturated battlefield environment. DRDO also unveiled a model of its AESA radar for the AMCA, with a greater number of Gallium -Nitride transmit/receive modules than LCA Mark-1A/Mark-II radars, indicating a significant upgrade in radar technology for the AMCA for advanced targeting/tracking/surveillance.

DRDO’s VHF-SR:Source-janes.com

In a shining example of in-Service technical prowess, the Indian Army (IA) unveiled two of many innovations developed by a serving Army Officer from the Corps of Engineers, Major RS Rajprasad. The Xploder Kamikaze and IED Disposal Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is a multi-role, all-terrain UGV capable of unmanned reconnaissance/surveillance, delivery of explosive/hazardous payloads, remote disposal of IEDs and operating in kamikaze role during hideout/bunker clearance. The UGV is due to be inducted shortly into the IA. The Mobile Reactive Munition System (MRS) is a mine-deployment system which can be deployed via aerial platforms like UAVs or as part of a vehicle-based mine delivery system. When deployed, the MRS stealthily navigates and positions itself under a target for engagement. Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) has been selected as the explosives partner for the MRS munition.

Hon’ble RM Being Briefed on the Xploder UGV at AI-25:

Source-economictimes.indiatimes.com

Russia’s Rosoboronexport showcased the Lancet-E LM System, a version of which, the Lancet-3, is being used extensively in Ukraine and has been responsible for destruction of a large percentage of Ukraine/NATO Artillery systems and Armoured Fighting Vehicles since the commencement of the conflict. The Lancet System consists of Product 52-E Guided Munition Carrier, along with Product 51-E LM with a shaped-charge warhead and the Z-16-E Reconnaissance Drone, which can also act as a communications relay. The LM has a cruising speed of 100 Kmph and a strike radius of 30-80 Km. The company has stated that they are open to licensed production and technology partnerships in this regard.

Lancet LM At AI-25: Source-theasialive.com

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled the AIR LORA Deep Stand-Off Air-Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM). The 400 Km-range supersonic ALBM can be integrated onto various aerial platforms and is designed for autonomous precision strikes on high-value, fortified targets, even in GNSS compromised environments.

A representation of ventures/collaborations inked are enumerated in the table below.

Conclusion

 AI-25 lived up to its reputation as a kaleidoscope of technology, which encouragingly included indigenous private players. Frontline weapon platforms and innovative designs were showcased, creating global markets for indigenous products and providing a gateway that could significantly catalyse the technological advancement of the Indian Armed Forces.