The 19th Dubai Airshow opened today at Dubai World Central under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, bringing together more than 1,500 exhibitors from 115 countries. This year’s edition features 440 first-time participants and over 200 aircraft in static and flying displays.
India marked a strong presence as Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth led the national delegation to the event. The team includes senior officials from the Department of Defence, Department of Defence Production, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Armed Forces. Seth inaugurated the India Pavilion, which features displays from HAL, DRDO, Corel Technologies, Dantal Hydraulics, Image Synergy Ekxplor and SFO Technologies. He said the pavilion “reflects India’s growing capabilities and partnerships in aerospace and defence.”
Alongside the pavilion, 19 Indian companies, including Bharat Forge, BrahMos, Tech Mahindra and HBL Engineering, are exhibiting independently. Fifteen Indian startups are also presenting new technologies at the Vista Startup Zone. The Indian Air Force is participating with the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team and the LCA Tejas, both expected to draw significant attention during aerial displays.
Seth inaugurated the BrahMos stall, describing the supersonic cruise missile as “a major attraction at the Airshow, with proven versatility across land, sea and air platforms.” He also interacted with Indian iDEX winners, noting that their innovations “demonstrate the future of defence technology and India’s expanding role in global aerospace.”
India’s iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) winners are startups and companies that have been selected for their innovative defence and aerospace solutions. At the Dubai Airshow 2025, 15 iDEX winners are showcasing their innovations. The biennial Dubai Airshow continues to serve as one of the world’s largest platforms for aviation and defence, drawing more than 148,000 industry professionals and major international manufacturers such as Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Dassault Aviation and Embraer.