- A Global Platform for Innovation, Collaboration and Defence Partnerships
- A Convergence of Technology, Industry and Diplomacy
- Showcases Atmanirbhar Bharat & Make in India
By Sangeeta Saxena
Bangalore. 10 February 2025. Aero India 2025, Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, soared to new heights as Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh inaugurated its 15th edition at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. The event, a global confluence of industry leaders, defence experts, and policymakers, underscores India’s commitment to technological innovation, self-reliance, and international collaboration in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Delivering the inaugural address, Rajnath Singh emphasized India’s vision of fostering strong partnerships based on mutual respect, interest, and benefit. Highlighting the country’s strides in indigenous defence production, he stated that the event would further propel India’s emergence as a global hub for advanced defence technologies. The exhibition will witness participation from government officials, industry leaders, start-ups, academia, and defence personnel from across the world, facilitating discussions on security, innovation, and emerging technologies.
Defence Minister stated that the record allocation of Rs 6.81 lakh crore to Ministry of Defence in Union Budget 2025-26, including Rs 1.80 lakh crore for capital acquisition, is a proof that the Government considers defence as a top-priority sector. He added that like the previous budget, 75% of modernisation budget has been reserved for procurement through domestic sources with an aim to widen and deepen the capabilities of India’s Defence Industrial Complex.
He noted that India is one of the major nations experiencing peace and prosperity amid the current climate of unpredictability in the world. India has never engaged in a great power rivalry or launched an attack on another nation. We have consistently supported stability and peace. It is a component of our core principles,” he stated. Rajnath Singh informed the defence ministers, high-ranking officials, and foreign OEM representatives in attendance that international peace, prosperity, and stability depend on their collaboration with India.
India is undergoing a transformative period, swiftly transitioning from a developing to a developed country, according to the Minister. He continued by saying that the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has developed a coordinated, persistent, and well-thought-out plan that has resulted in the creation of a robust defence industrial ecosystem in the nation. He emphasized that the defence industry, which was once not considered a part of the national economy, is now completely interwoven with the economy as a whole. According to him, the sector is now a motor that drives the Indian economy’s growth engine.
“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.
Government representatives, industry leaders, air force officers, scientists, defence sector experts, startups, academia, and other stakeholders from around the world will all be attending the five-day event, according to the Minister. This convergence will help India’s partners get closer to everyone’s advantage.
“As buyers and sellers, we frequently engage in transactional relationships. But on a deeper level, we establish an industrial collaboration, which goes beyond a buyer-seller connection. With like-minded nations, we have several successful examples of co-production and co-development. For us, Indian peace and security cannot exist in a vacuum. Peace, stability, and security are universal concepts that cut across national boundaries. Our partners share our goal of “One earth, One family, One future,” as evidenced by the participation of our international friends,” Rajnath Singh continued.
Aero India 2025 serves as a testament to India’s rapidly evolving defence and aerospace landscape, aligning with the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiatives. With a record defence budget allocation and growing private sector participation, India is poised to become a leading global defence exporter.
Speaking about the achievements of the previous Aero India, Shri Rajnath Singh said that the nation is producing a number of high-tech products, including the Astra Missile, New Generation Akash Missile, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Unmanned Surface Vessel, and Pinaka Guided Rocket. He expressed the government’s steadfast determination to ensure that the defence industry advances at a never-before-seen rate and to surpass the Rs 1.27 lakh crore defence output and Rs 21,000 crore defence export statistics in the near future. Recall that Raksha Mantri had stated his confidence that defence output would transcend Rs 1.60 lakh crore by the end of 2025-26 and defence exports would surpass Rs 30,000 crore at the Aero India 2025 curtain raiser news conference yesterday evening.
On 2025 being announced as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Minister called it as not simply a government slogan, but the Government’s commitment towards reforms. According to him, the Armed Forces and DPSUs are also involved in the reform process, and decisions are not just made at the ministry level. All parties involved in the defence industry should participate in order to forward this reform effort more quickly. All Ministry stakeholders are welcome to provide suggestions, he stated.
The five-day event will feature high-profile discussions, business collaborations, and breathtaking air displays, offering a glimpse into the future of defence technology. As India strengthens its industrial capabilities and fosters strategic alliances, Aero India 2025 stands as a pivotal platform for shaping the future of global security and defence cooperation.
