The 2025 Aero India air show will mark a historic moment in aviation history, as the American F-35 and F-16 fighter jets will be showcased alongside Russia’s Su-57 for the first time. This event will take place at the Yelahanka airfield in India, where both the United States and Russia will demonstrate their military aircraft together at the same show. The air show, which runs from 9 to 14 February 2025, promises to be a significant event for aviation enthusiasts, military officials, and defence experts from around the world.
Initially, the U.S. Air Combat Command shocked the aviation community by announcing that the F-35 and F-16 would not participate in the air show. However, the decision was reversed, and both aircraft have since arrived in India. The F-35s from the 388th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force and the F-16s from the Viper Demonstration Group will be on display both statically and in flight, alongside aircraft from the Indian Air Force and Navy, including the Su-30MKI, Rafale, and MiG-29K.
Russia’s Su-57, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, made its early arrival at the airfield and will be displayed both on the ground and in flight demonstrations. This marks the first time these two advanced military aircraft, representing the United States and Russia, will face each other at the same air show, drawing considerable attention to the contrasting approaches of the two global powers to modern warfare technology.
In addition to these military jets, the exhibition will also feature a full-scale model of India’s upcoming fifth-generation fighter, the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft). This model showcases India’s efforts to develop its own advanced fighter aircraft, with plans to enter full-scale production by 2035. The Indian government has allocated approximately $1.8 billion to fund the development, testing, and certification of the AMCA, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited planning to build five prototypes. These prototypes will undergo the largest and most extensive flight tests in India’s history. While the aircraft is not expected to be operational until 2035, the presentation at Aero India 2025 will give a glimpse of India’s ambitions in the field of defence technology.
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