India to showcase defence capabilities at Dubai Airshow 2025; Sanjay Seth to lead delegation
New Delhi, November 16. India is set to make a strong pitch for its expanding defence manufacturing and aerospace capabilities at the Dubai Airshow 2025, with Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth scheduled to lead a high-level delegation to the event on November 17-18 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The biennial airshow is one of the world’s largest aviation and defence exhibitions, drawing over 1,500 global exhibitors and more than 148,000 industry professionals from 150 countries.
The Indian delegation will include senior officials from the Department of Defence, Department of Defence Production, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the armed forces, reflecting New Delhi’s growing emphasis on international defence cooperation and exports. A bilateral meeting between Seth and his UAE counterpart is planned on the sidelines, signalling a continued push to strengthen strategic ties with the Gulf nation in the defence and security domain.
Underscoring India’s bid to bolster global partnerships in defence manufacturing, the minister will also chair an industry roundtable involving about 50 companies from India, the UAE, Australia, the US, Brazil, the UK, and Italy. The discussions are expected to focus on collaborative opportunities in defence technology, co-development, and production aligned with India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
Seth will inaugurate the India Pavilion at the airshow, which will feature leading public and private-sector defence exhibitors including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Corel Technologies, Dantal Hydraulics, Image Synergy Ekxplor, and SFO Technologies. The pavilion aims to highlight India’s growing design, development, and production capabilities across aerospace systems and advanced defence technologies.
Beyond the pavilion, 19 Indian companies – among them Bharat Forge, BrahMos Aerospace, Tech Mahindra, and HBL Engineering – will showcase their products independently, signalling India’s increasing confidence as an emerging defence exporter. The country’s vibrant startup ecosystem will also be on display, with 15 Indian startups presenting innovations ranging from unmanned systems to defence software solutions.
The Indian Air Force will add a strong operational dimension to the national presence at the event. The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, known for its precision flying, and the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will participate, underscoring India’s capabilities in advanced fighter aircraft development and aerial manoeuvre excellence.
With major global aerospace firms such as Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Lockheed Martin, Thales, and Bombardier participating, the Dubai Airshow 2025 offers India a significant platform to deepen defence partnerships, project its indigenous technologies, and expand its footprint in the global defence market.
