Aero India 2025: Fifth-generation fighter jets Su-57, F-35 to share same airstrip for the first time
Bengaluru: The 15th edition of the biennial Aero India was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka on Monday. The event, covering over 42,000 sq m, will see the participation of over 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies, making it the biggest edition to date.
For the first time, Russia’s Su-57 Felon and the US F-35 Lightning II, both advanced fifth-generation fighter jets, will share the same airstrip at the event.
Su-57 Felon
Developed by Sukhoi, the Su-57 is Russia’s premier stealth multirole fighter, designed for air superiority and strike missions. It features advanced avionics, supercruise capability, and stealth technology. The aircraft, which entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in December 2020, is expected to replace the MiG-29 and Su-27.
F-35 Lightning II
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Lightning II is a widely deployed fifth-generation fighter with advanced stealth, situational awareness, and networked combat capabilities. It is a multirole combat aircraft designed for air superiority, strike missions, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Other Aircraft Participating in Aero India 2025
From the United States:
- B-1B Lancer
- KC-135 Stratotanker
Indigenous Aircraft:
- LCA MK 1A
- Hansa-NG (pilot trainer)
- Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT)
- HTT-40 (pilot trainer)
- Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)
- Su-30 MKI
Defence Minister highlights India's growth in aerospace, defence
At the curtain-raiser event in Bengaluru on Sunday, Rajnath Singh described the participation of over 90 countries as a sign of growing global confidence in India’s defence capabilities. He stated that India's defence production, which crossed ₹1.27 lakh crore, is expected to surpass ₹1.60 lakh crore by 2025-26. Defence exports, which reached ₹21,000 crore, are projected to exceed ₹30,000 crore.
Aero India is a biennial event organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation under the Ministry of Defence.
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TN seeks duty-free cotton imports to support textile sector: CM Vijay writes to PM
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove the import duty on cotton.
In his first letter to Modi after taking over as chief minister of the state, he said Tamil Nadu is the country’s largest textile and apparel exporting state.
Lakhs of people are dependent on this sector for both direct and indirect employment, especially women from rural and semi-urban backgrounds, Vijay pointed out.
Stating that the industry is facing a severe crisis due to an increase in cotton prices and consequently yarn prices, he said, “I understand this is caused primarily due to a shortage in cotton production and increased trading activity in the country.”
Pointing out that the price of cotton has increased from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy—an increase of 25 per cent over the last two months—while yarn prices have increased from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kg, he said, “In this situation, the continued supply of raw material can be ensured only through imports.”
However, there is an import duty of 11 per cent on cotton, he said, adding that in such a situation, permitting duty-free cotton imports will help the industry meet increasing export commitments and remain globally competitive.
Vijay said that after agriculture, the textile and apparel sector is one of the largest employment-generating sectors.
“There is a significant responsibility on the government to safeguard the employment of lakhs of people and ensure the sustainability of the textile value chain," he said.
“Hence, I request your intervention to remove the import duty on cotton from the existing 11 per cent to 0 per cent to ensure the availability of raw material. This measure will enable the textile and apparel industry to remain globally competitive, enhance exports, and protect jobs,” he added.
