Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025), biennial event, held from May 20 to 24, 2025, at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) in Langkawi, Malaysia. It is recognized as one of the largest maritime and aerospace exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region.
- The event focused on defense preparedness, regional collaboration, and technological innovation in maritime and aerospace sectors.
- India’s participation was marked by the inauguration of the ‘India Pavilion’ by Union Minister of State(MoS), Sanjay Seth, Ministry of Defence(MoD).
About LIMA 2025:
i.The 17th edition of LIMA is organized by Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Global Exhibitions and Conferences Sdn. Bhd. (GEC).
ii.The five-day event was inaugurated by Dato‘ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister (PM) of Malaysia and witnessed participation from global leaders and industry representatives across the maritime and aerospace sectors.
iii.This edition attracted 860 exhibitors from 24 countries and 140 delegates representing 46 nations, including military heads and government officials.
iv.The exhibition saw participation including Brazil, France, Italy, Singapore, Indonesia, and the United States. In total, 57 aircraft and 39 maritime display assets were showcased, featuring the latest fighter jets, helicopters, and naval vessels.
India’s Participation:
i.An Indian delegation led by Union MoS Sanjay Seth, MoD participated in the opening ceremony.
- On the sidelines of the event, Union MoS Sanjay Seth met with Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin to strengthen bilateral defence ties and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between two countries.
ii.He inaugurated the India Pavilion, featuring indigenous defense technologies like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-manufactured Dornier aircraft and Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kavaratti.
iii.Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) such as Mumbai, Maharashtra based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Hyderabad, Telangana based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bengaluru, Karnataka based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bengaluru based Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Hyderabad, Telangana based Gliders India Limited. showcased India’s growing defense capabilities.
Note: The Indian Air Force(IAF)’s acclaimed aerobatic team, Surya Kiran, has pulled out of LIMA 2025, citing “the situation back home” as the reason for the withdrawal.
Global Participants and Exhibits:
i.Beijing (China)-based China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) displayed advanced aircraft, including the J-10CE fighter jet, FC-31 stealth fighter, and Y-20 transport aircraft.
ii.Ankara (Türkiye)-based STM unveiled its Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) design for amphibious operations.
iii.São José dos Campos (Brazil)-based Embraer SA highlighted the KC-390 Millennium, a multi-mission transport aircraft tailored for Southeast Asia.
iv.Russia’s Su-57M, a fifth-generation Artificial Intelligence (AI)-integrated stealth fighter, made its debut, competing with Western platforms like the F-35 Lightning II.
Key Highlights:
i.The exhibition included aerial demonstrations by aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and international teams, including Russia’s Russian Knights and Indonesia’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team, performed daily demonstrations.
ii.Malaysia-based Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR), a leading ground services provider, officially launched its new Private Jet Handling service, marking its strategic entry into the VIP and business aviation segment. This premium service expands GTR’s existing portfolio of aviation ground handling services.
iii.During the event, a new feature called the A.T.M.O.S Sphere (Aerospace, Technology, Maritime, and Operations for Sustainability) was introduced by Malaysia. It was an immersive dome using 360-degree projection to showcase new innovations and future themes in security and defence.
ii.Malaysia secured Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth 11 billion Malaysian Ringgit (approximately USD 2.34 billion), encompassing collaborations in defence satellite initiatives and the integration of artificial intelligence in aviation.
About Malaysia:
Prime Minister (PM) – Anwar bin Ibrahim
Capital – Kuala Lumpur
Currency – Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
