Highlights of the 15th edition Aero India 2025 – PART 2

The 15th edition of Aero India 2025, Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, was held from February 10 to 14, 2025, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, under the theme “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities.”

For key highlights from the first part of the event, refer to Part 1 Highlights of the 15th edition Aero India 2O25 and Below are the highlights of Aero India 2025- Part 2.

DRDO Unveils India’s First VHF Radar for Stealth Aircraft Detection

At Aero India 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) based in New Delhi (Delhi) unveiled India’s first indigenous Very High Frequency (VHF) radar, designed to detect fifth- and sixth-generation stealth aircraft that pose significant threats to national security.

• This state-of-the-art radar can detect stealth aircraft such as B-2 bombers, F-117, and F-35 fighters at a range of 400 kilometers. The radar can track as many as 100 targets at the same time,
• The radar is mounted on heavy-lift vehicles (HLVs), allowing it to be deployed on any terrain, operating in both steering and rotation modes.
• Mounted on a 6×6 high-mobility vehicle (HMV) with a foldable antenna, the system uses advanced digital phased array technology with element-level digitization.
• Features adaptive signal processing algorithms to counter clutter and electronic jamming.
• Uses Gallium Nitride (GaN) transmit/receive (TR) modules, improving power output and signal reception.

HAL Management Academy and IIIT Dharwad Partnership

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Management Academy, the training wing of HAL headquartered at Bengaluru signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Dharwad, Karnataka at Aero India 2025 to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia.

• The MOU was signed in the presence of HAL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) D K Sunil and Executive Director (ED) of Human Resources M G Balasubrahmanya.
• This partnership aims to promote research, internships, and technical education in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Robotics, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and Digital Manufacturing, focusing on applications in the aerospace and defence sectors.
• As per the MoU, HAL officers can pursue higher studies at IIIT Dharwad, while students can gain practical experience through internships at HAL divisions.

HAL Signs Long-Term Contract with SAE for LEAP Engine Components

HAL has signed a long-term agreement with France -based Safran Aircraft Engines (SAE) for the supply of turbine forged parts for Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines.HAL’s Ring Rolling facility in Bengaluru will be responsible for producing the forged parts.

• Safran and HAL have collaborated for decades, co-developing the Shakti helicopter engine and paving the way for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) engine.

Note: In October 2023, both companies had signed a MoU to strengthen industrial cooperation in manufacturing commercial engine parts under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

HAL Signs Agreement with Collins Aerospace for MRO Facility to Support LCA Tejas Mk1

HAL has entered into an agreement with Collins Aerospace, a North Carolina (United States of America, USA)-based aerospace and defence company and a subsidiary of RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation) to set up a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the HAL Accessories Complex in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

• This facility will focus on servicing electrical power generation systems used in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)Tejas Mk1.

i.Under this licensing and spares agreement, the new MRO unit will handle repairs and overhauls of Integrated Drive Generators (IDGs) and Generator Control Units (GCUs), which are essential components for certain Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft.

ii.Once functional, the facility will provide maintenance support for all Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1 (LCA Mk 1) jets operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Godrej & Boyce Strengthens Aerospace Presence with Key Agreements at Aero India 2025

Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is strengthening its role in India’s aerospace sector by signing multiple key agreements during Aero India 2025  to support national defence programs backed by the Government of India (GoI).

• One of the major agreements was signed with the Bengaluru- based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Ministry of Defence to manufacture flight control actuators for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.
• Godrej & Boyce is moving from producing parts based on existing designs (“Built to Print”) to designing and manufacturing them independently (“Built to Spec”).

Union Minister of State Sanjay Seth Awards RMTC Certificates for Astra BVR and HTT-40 

Union Minister of State (MoS) Sanjay Seth, Ministry of Defence (MoD) handed over Restricted Military Type Certificates (RMTC) for the Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft during the 15th Aero India International Seminar, which was held in Bengaluru before Aero India 2025.

• The seminar was organized by the  Bengaluru- based Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) under the DRDO in partnership with New Delhi- based Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI).
• The theme of the seminar was ‘Futuristic Aerospace Technologies: Challenges in Design Validation’.
• The event was attended by several distinguished officials, including: V. Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who was the Chief Guest.

Russia Offers Su-57E Fighter Jet Production and Technology Transfer at HAL

During Aero India 2025, Russia-based Rosoboronexport, in collaboration with its Russian aerospace and defence corporation Unit United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), proposed a partnership with India for the production of the Sukhoi-57 Export Variant (Su-57E),Russia’s fifth-generation fighter jet, and is ready to initiate its localization at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) facilities.

i.Russia demonstrated Su-57 advanced aerial capabilities, including maintaining extreme angles of attack at Aero India 2025,

ii.UAC manufactures the Su-57E fighter jet, while Rosoboronexport offers advanced fifth-generation technologies, including engines, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, optical systems,AI features, software communication systems, and air weapons.

BFL Collaborates with Two Aerospace Entities

I.Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL) from Pune, Maharashtra, has signed an MoU with New Delhi-based Veda Aeronautics Private Limited. The collaboration aims to develop advanced  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and high-speed aerial weapons for military use.

• As part of the agreement, Veda Aeronautics will integrate BFL’s microjet engines into its unmanned systems. Meanwhile, BFL is working on indigenous jet engines with up to 400 kilogram-force (kgf) thrust for defence applications. Its 40 kgf and 45 kgf engines are already in production and will be used in Veda’s defence projects.

ii.BFL has signed a MoU with Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation, an aerospace company based in Toulouse, France, to set up a manufacturing facility at BFL’s headquarters in Pune,Maharashtra to meet the growing needs of the global aerospace industry.

• The manufacturing unit is expected to start operations in 2025. The facility will include a ring mill equipped with cutting-edge forging and machining technologies to manufacture high-precision components, such as landing gear parts.

KSSL and L3Harris signs MoU for C4ISR Technologies

Pune-based Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), a subsidiary of BFL, signed a two-year MoU with United States of America (USA)-based L3Harris Technologies to enhance defence and security solutions in India.

• The focus will be on developing advanced technologies for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.

BEML Partners with STX Engine to Develop Battle Tank and Marine Engines

Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) a Bengaluru-based public sector undertaking (PSU), has partnered with South Korea based STX Engine at Aero India 2025 to develop and manufacture battle tanks and marine engines. Through this partnership, BEML plans to expand into defence and marine engine manufacturing, using STX Engine’s expertise to create advanced propulsion systems.

i.A MoU was exchanged between BEML’s Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), Shantanu Roy, and STX Engine’s President & Chief Operating Officer (CEO), Sangsu Lee, in the presence of senior officials from both companies.

DRDO Unveils ‘Shyen’ Sensor Suite for IN’s Dornier Do 228 Upgradation

DRDO introduced its new ‘Shyen’ sensor suite at Aero India 2025. This suite is designed to upgrade the IN’s fleet of Dornier Do 228 maritime patrol aircraft.

i.This suite includes a maritime surveillance radar, an electronic support measures (ESM) system, an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) system, and a software-defined radio (SDR).

ii.The radar, named Kshitij, is an X-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) system capable of detecting both sea surface and airborne targets.

DRDO Unveils 155mm Ramjet Projectile for ATAGS to Extend Range

DRDO introduced 155 millimetre (mm) ramjet projectile for BFL’s 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). This new projectile aims to extend the range of the ATAGS up to 80 km, weighs 12 tonnes and can fire six rounds in 30 seconds.

i.The Indian Army (IA) is expected to finalize a contract to buy 307 ATAGS units by March 2025

ii.It was developed in the 2010s through a partnership between DRDO and companies like BFL, KSSL and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)..

Zen Technologies Partners with TXT Group to Develop Advanced Pilot Training Solutions

Zen Technologies Limited, based in Hyderabad and a leading provider of anti-drone technology & defence training solutions, has signed a strategic MoU with TXT e-Tech and PACE, part of the TXT Group based in Milan, Italy.

This collaboration focuses on developing advanced pilot training solutions, including Part Task Trainers, Full Flight Simulators, and Full Mission Simulators.

India Signs 250 MoUs for Defence Projects, Announces FDI Policy in Defence Sector

Union Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that 250 agreements have been made for establishing industrial units in the Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Tamil Nadu (TN).

• The GoI has also introduced a policy allowing 75% foreign direct investment (FDI) under the Automatic Route for companies seeking defence licenses, while 100% FDI will be permitted with government approval.

APEBD signs MoUs worth Rs 2,458.84 crore

During the Aero India 2025, the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) signed MoUs worth Rs 2,458.84 crore with four major aerospace and defence companies to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities.

• These companies include Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited from Mumbai, Maharashtra ;Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited (HFCL) from Gurugram, Haryana and Media Matrix Worldwide Limited based in Mumbai.

FWDA Secures First Global Export Order for FWD 100 ISR Aircraft

Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) based in Bengaluru, has received India’s first global export order for its FWD 100 ISR((Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) autonomous aircraft from a country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• The FWD 100 ISR, a smaller version of the FWD 200B, is equipped with advanced optical equipment for precise surveillance and intelligence collection. It has a 6-meter wingspan, is 3.8 mlong, weighs up to 90 kg at takeoff, and can operate for up to 24 hours.
• This agreement positions India among the world’s leading defence exporters, alongside nations like the USA, China, Turkey, Iran, and Israel.

Prize Distribution at Defence Innovation Challenge for Excellence (DICE-2024) at Aero India 2025

The grand finale of the Defence Innovation Challenge for Excellence (DICE-2024) was held at Aero India 2025. The competition attracted a large number of applications from 47 cities across 17 states. After a detailed screening process, 24 start-ups were selected for the finale.

• The winners received a prize pool of Rs 6.50 lakh, as well as opportunities for incubation and seed funding through MAGIC.

The winners were chosen in three stages: Revenue Stage, Pre-Revenue Stage, and Idea Stage

Other Points:

i.The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Roundtable at the 15th Edition of Aero India saw record participation, with 116 global CEOs attending. Union Minister Rajnath Singh was present at the event, which focused on the theme E.D.G.E – ‘Enabling Defence Cooperation through Global Engagement’.

• Union Minister Rajnath Singh also launched the Defence Testing Portal (DTP), and
• Unveiled a booklet on Defence Testing Capabilities prepared by the New Delhi -based Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) operating under MoD.

ii.Hyderabad (Telangana) basedTata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has introduced the Advanced Loitering System (ALS), a long-range autonomous suicide drone developed in India. The drone has a range of over 250 kilometres (km) and is designed to operate from high-altitude locations, including advanced landing grounds above 10,000 feet.

• The ALS is equipped to carry anti-tank warheads, can operate without Global Positioning System (GPS), and functions in all weather conditions.

iii.Hubballi (Karnataka)-based startup Astr Defence Private Limited has introduced ‘Chakra Trap’, a handheld system designed to capture and disable enemy drones. It is the first of its kind and features an 8-square-metre (sq.m) trap that expands to capture the target and has an operational range of up to 500 m.

iv.Thales Group, based in France, and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), headquartered in Hyderabad, will deliver the first batch of Laser Beam Riding Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (LBRM), including High-Velocity STARStreak Missiles and their launchers, this year following a request from the Government of India (GoI).

• The system weighs around 14 kilograms (kg) (30.8 pounds) and can hit targets up to 7 km (4.3 miles) away.

v.TASL will set up a modern Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Karnataka to service the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) C-130J aircraft.

vi.New Delhi- based Himalayan Heli Services Limited has expanded its fleet to eight H125 helicopters from 6 H125 by ordering two more from Netherland based Airbus SE. Part of the Airbus’ Ecureuil family, the H125 is built to perform efficiently in high-altitude and extreme conditions, will be used for commercial transport and aerial operations in northern India.

• Airbus also plans to set up a final assembly line for H125 helicopters in India.

vii.At Aero India 2025, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Tejasvi Surya took a 30-minute flight in the Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40),designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

viii.Bengaluru-based Scandron Private Limited, a drone manufacturer, introduced the CargoMax 20KHC at Aero India 2025. This fully autonomous cargo drone can carry up to 200 kgs, has a range of 15 kms, and can operate at altitudes up to 6,000 m above sea level.

• It is designed to assist the Indian armed forces, paramilitary forces, and emergency teams.