The 15th edition of Aero India, Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, opened at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. The event showcases India’s industrial and technological progress while strengthening global defence partnerships.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that Aero India 2025 provides a platform for collaboration among like-minded nations. He highlighted the importance of security, stability, and peace as shared goals beyond national borders.
Global Participation and Industrial Partnerships
The five-day event gathers government representatives, industry leaders, military officers, scientists, start-ups, and academia from around the world. Singh stressed the need to move beyond transactional buyer-seller relationships and focus on industrial co-production and co-development.
India’s defence sector is evolving rapidly. The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹6.81 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence, with ₹1.80 lakh crore earmarked for capital acquisitions. Seventy-five percent of the modernization budget is reserved for domestic procurement, bolstering India’s defence industry.
Private Sector and Industrial Growth
Singh reiterated the government’s push for private sector involvement. He cited the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft project as an example of successful industrial collaboration. India is becoming a preferred destination for aerospace component manufacturing and complex system assembly.
Since the last Aero India, India has advanced significantly in defence production. Key developments include Astra Missile, New Generation Akash Missile, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, and Pinaka Guided Rockets. The government aims to exceed ₹1.27 lakh crore in defence production and ₹21,000 crore in exports, setting targets of ₹1.60 lakh crore and ₹30,000 crore respectively by 2025-26.
Year of Reforms and Future Roadmap
Singh described 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ for the Ministry of Defence. He encouraged broad stakeholder participation to accelerate policy improvements and drive innovation.
Aero India 2025 includes key events such as the Defence Ministers’ Conclave, CEOs Roundtable, and exhibitions showcasing indigenous and global aerospace technologies. Business meetings will take place from February 10 to 12, followed by public viewing on February 13 and 14.
Dignitaries in Attendance
Key dignitaries at the event included Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, and senior officials from the defence and aerospace industries.
