Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 15th edition of the biennial Aero India at Yelahanka Air Force Station on February 10, 2025. The five-day event’s inauguration featured a flypast of various aircraft.
The air display began with an AN 32 dropping the Akash Ganga skydiving team, followed by formations of Mi 17 helicopters (Dhwaj), LCA MK1 Tejas aircraft (Tejas), Light Utility Helicopters (Bhim), Dornier aircraft (Rakshak), an AN 32 and two Dornier aircraft (Drona), LCA MK1A aircraft (Yodha), a P8I, two MiG-29s, and two Hawk aircraft (Varuna), a C-130 and two C-29 aircraft (Saathi), Jaguar aircraft (Arjuna), a Netra aircraft and two Su-30s (Netra), a Rafale and a Su-30 (Shakti), and finally, three Su-30s (Trishul).
“Aero India 2025, a confluence of critical & frontier technologies, will provide a platform to further strengthen relations among like-minded countries based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual benefit to deal with today’s uncertainties,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while inaugurating Aero India. He exuded confidence that Aero India 2025 will showcase the country’s industrial capability and technological advancements to the world, while further strengthening symbiotic relations with friendly countries. Lasting peace can only be achieved if nations become stronger together and work for a Better World Order, he said.
The defence minister stated that the five-day event will witness the participation of Government Representatives, Industry Leaders, Air Force Officers, Scientists, Defence Sector Experts, Start-ups, Academia & other stakeholders from all across the globe, and this confluence would bring India’s partners closer to the benefit of all.
“We often interact as buyers and sellers, where our relations are at a transactional level. However, at another level, we forge our partnership beyond the buyer-seller relationship to the level of Industrial Collaboration. We have many successful examples of co-production and co-development with like-minded countries. For us, there is no Indian security or Indian peace in isolation. Security, stability and peace are shared constructs that transcend national borders. The presence of our foreign friends is a testimony to the fact that our partners share our vision of One earth, One family, One future,” added Rajnath Singh.
He pointed out that in the present environment of global uncertainty, India is one such big country which is witnessing peace and prosperity. “India has never attacked any country, nor has it been involved in any great power rivalry. We have always been an advocate of peace and stability. It is part of our fundamental ideals,” he said. Rajnath Singh told the Defence Ministers, senior officials and representatives of foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers present on the occasion that their cooperation with India is crucial for global peace, prosperity and stability.
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka DK Shiva Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal SP Dharkhar were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
