Aero India, one of the Indo-Pacific’s largest aerospace exhibitions, commenced in February 2025 against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in the Indo-Pacific. The event highlighted the push for enhanced defense manufacturing and exports.
“Aero India 2025 is an ideal forum to showcase U.S. defense aircraft and equipment and ultimately contribute toward our compatibility and interoperability with other nations,” Gen. Kevin Schneider, commander of United States Pacific Air Forces, said in a news release. “The growth in Indian and U.S. bilateral defense trade has corresponded with growing interoperability through information sharing, liaison officers, training exercises and defense enabling agreements.
“The importance of our partnership continues to grow, particularly as we face an increasingly complex and dynamic security environment in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
India is boosting annual defense spending by 9.5%, to $78.8 billion in 2025-26, according to New Delhi.
The U.S. participation in Aero India 2025, which included assets such as a B-1B Lancer supersonic bomber, an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet and a KC-135 Stratotanker, underscores the nation’s commitment to regional security and defense cooperation.
In addition to showcasing advanced aircraft, the exhibition is a platform for discussions on defense cooperation and strategic partnerships, with defense officials, industry leaders and experts from around the world exploring opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The presence of high-level delegations from India and the U.S. underscored the potential for deeper defense ties.
