Aero India Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bangalore , India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station . It is organized by Defence Exhibition Organisation , the Ministry of Defence . Organisers . The Defence Ministry of India , Indian Air Force , Defence Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) , Department of Space , the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and other such organizations join hands to organize the Aero India show , making it the largest air show in Asia . Air shows . The first edition of the air show was held in 1996 . During this Aero India Show , many manufacturers and service providers from the Indian aerospace and aviation industry meet the potential buyers of their products . After 1996 , the 4th edition of the air show took place in 2003 . About 176 exhibitors from 22 countries all over the world came to grace the show . In the year 2005 , more than 380 participants came to the Aero India show ’ s 5th edition . In this show , many military and civil aircraft as well as aerospace products were displayed . The 2007 Aero India show was held at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bangalore in Karnataka . The 7th edition was held from 11 to 15 February 2009 , and included 592 exhibitors from over 25 countries . The eighth edition started on 9 February 2011 . In recent years , the Aero India has emerged as one of the world ' s most important and largest military aviation exhibitions . The Mikoyan MiG - 35 and F - 16IN " Super Viper " were unveiled for the first time at the 6th and 7th editions of Aero India respectively . 1st edition ( 1996 ) . The first edition of Aero India was held in 1996 . Since then , the event has gradually earned international recognition , and has seen increased participation from exhibitors since then . 2nd edition ( 1998 ) . The second edition started on 8 December 1998 at the Yelahanka Air Force Base . It was inaugurated by George Fernandes , India ' s Defence Minister . It included fly pasts by three Jaguars , three MiG - 23 s , three HAL Tejas , 9 HAL Kiran aircraft of the Surya Kiran aerobatic team , Hawk 200 , Mirage 2000 and the Sukhoi Su - 30MKI s . this was followed by sky diving display by nine sky divers of the Akash Ganga team . The exhibition stalls included displays by Boeing , Allied Signal , Bell Textron , Airbus Industries , Aerospatiale , Dassault , British Aerospace , HAL , DRDO , ADA , BEL and NAL . The French and Russian presence was especially strong , and the highlights were the detailed models of all Boeing commercial aircraft starting from Boeing 717 to Boeing 777 . 3rd edition ( 2001 ) . Bangalore ' s third air show opened at the Yelahanka AF Base on 7 February 2001 . 4th edition ( 2003 ) . 176 companies from 22 countries participated in the 4th edition of the event from 5 to 9 February 2003 in Yelahanka at the outskirts of Bangalore . It was inaugurated by the then Defence Minister of India ( seen in first thumb of photograph ) , George Fernandes . About 50 delegations from the United States , Europe , Russia , the Middle East , Asia - Pacific and Africa visited Bangalore for the event . The French delegation was led by the Prime Minister of France , Jean - Pierre Raffarin . A pair of HAL Dhruv performed their first display , and a composite formation was flown which was led by the Dhruv , followed by a pair of Kiran , Mirage 2000 and Sukhoi Su - 30s . 5th edition ( 2005 ) . The 5th Aero India 2005 , the biennial air - show - cum - defence exhibitions , was held at the Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bangalore from 9 – 13 February 2005 . The Aero India 2005 attracted record 380 exhibitors from the world ' s leading industries in the field of civil and military aviation , aerospace and airfield upgrade . The show included both air displays as well as static exhibitions of military and civil aircraft . A total of 80 aircraft including Fighters , Light Combat Aircraft , Advanced Light Helicopters , Intermediate Jet Trainers ( AJTs ) , Maritime Surveillance Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ( UAVs ) displayed their flying skills and capability during the Aero India 2005 show . The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) and the Indian Navy also displayed their various aircraft . There were 32 official military delegations and over 250 , 000 people enjoyed the Aero India 2005 show , which is considered Asia ' s premier air show . The major attractions of Aero India 2005 were the leading fighter , advanced jet trainers and unmanned aerial vehicles from Russia , US , France , Britain , Israeli and India who took part in the flying as well as static displays at the show . The visitors enjoyed the spectacular flying performances and static exhibitions of the Russian MiG - 29K , Su - 30MKI and Il - 78 tanker ; the American F - 15E , C - 130J Super Hercules and P - 3C Orion aircraft ; the French vintage Mirage 2000 and Falcon 2000 ; the British Hawk 100 , Jaguar and Sea Harriers , and the Indian Dhruv ( Advanced Light Helicopter ) and Intermediate Jet Trainer ( IJT ) and the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen . The colorful aerobatics performance by Sarang - the Indian Air Force ' s Advanced Light Helicopters , made everyone spell bound during the inaugural function . Other major attractions in Aero India 2005 were the unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ) . The Israel ' s Orbiter and SkyLite mini UAV impressed their visitors with beautiful look and features . The lightweight Orbiter just weighs 4 . 5 kg features an advanced data link system transmitting all the data and video in real time . The SkyLite mini is capable of making vertical flights from the canister , and can be launched even from narrow alleys . The U . S . maritime surveillance aircraft P - 3C Orion and C - 130J Super Hercules transport aircraft attracted the attention of visitors . The P - 3C Orion is generally used in anti - submarine and anti - ship warfare , over - water and over - land surveillance missions , and network - centric warfare missions . The U . S . Hawkeye 2000 , known for its airborne early warning and battle management command and control system , was another attraction in the Aero India 2005 show . Aero India 2005 also proved good for passenger aircraft manufacturers , as number of inquiries , especially for the smaller and low - cost aircraft were made during the show . Visitors also had a chance to get a glimpse of advanced missile systems , avionics suites , radars , and simulators . 6th edition ( 2007 ) . This event was held from 7 February 2007 to 11 February 2007 , at the Yelahanka Air Force Station . The attractions of the event were the Lockheed - Martin F - 16 , as well as the Boeing F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet , all contenders for the Indian Air Force ' s 126 aircraft MRCA requirement . Also present were the Surya Kiran and Sarang acrobatic teams . The Surya Kiran team consists of nine Indian pilots , and have displayed skills by flying as close as 3 - 5 mts at high speeds and have exhibited various formations like the arrow , diamond and concluding with the hearts . The Sarang team displays maneuvers of Advanced Light Helicopter ( ALH ) . During the rehearsals for the show , one of the Sarang helicopters crashed on 2 February 2007 . The co - pilot was killed in the incident . However , the team performed the displays in the show . During the show , a HAL HJT - 36 skidded off the runway when a tyre burst after the pilot aborted take - off as the aircraft ' s canopy inadvertently opened up . Fortunately , there was no fatality . 7th edition ( 2009 ) . The 7th edition of Aero India was held on 11 – 15 February 2009 . 289 Indian firms and 303 foreign companies participated in one of the largest international aerospace exhibitions in Bangalore . Armament majors from several countries , including Australia , Brazil , Britain , Belgium , Canada , Czech Republic , France , Germany , Italy , Ireland , Israel , Malaysia , Norway , Poland , Romania , Russia , Singapore , South Africa , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Netherlands , Ukraine and United States . There were also country pavilions from Australia , Belgium , Germany , Israel and Romania . This year also saw China participating for the first time in Aero India . The show was preceded by an international seminar ( Aero India Seminar ) on aerospace technologies and applications ( 9 – 11 February ) , hosted by Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) . Nearly 330 companies from 50 countries abroad and 230 from India set up exhibits . Some 30 military and civil aircraft gave flight demonstrations . The F - 16 , F - 18 , MiG - 35D , Eurofighter , IJT , Dhruv , Hawk , C - 17 , Embraer 135 business jet Legacy 600 , C - 130J , Citation XLS , G 550 , AN - 12 Cargo and A - 310 MRTT were on display . Some 70 more were on static display . Whose event manager will be the Confederation of Indian Industry ( CII ) . Defense Minister A . K . Antony chaired the first meeting of the apex committee of the exhibition here Friday . " Addressing the top officials from several ministries and organizations , Antony said Aero India - 2009 should be conducted in such a manner that it provides a benchmark for similar shows being organized in various parts of the world , " the official said . The Indian Air Force brought out some of the vintage aircraft from its stable and flew them . The defense ministry also facilitated interaction between the overseas original equipment manufacturers and Indian business houses . " Similar interactions will also be encouraged between small and medium enterprises from home and abroad . Efforts are also being made to give exposure to students of technical and engineering colleges to encourage them to be part of the country ' s aim of becoming a design hub in aerospace technologies in the foreseeable future , " the official added . The central government will spend nearly Rs . 200 million to augment the infrastructure in and around the Air Force Station Yelahanka . 8th edition ( 2011 ) . The 2011 edition of Aero India was held from 9 February to 13 February in Bangalore . It was reported that the Chinese aircraft will not participate in this edition , due to rising trade competition between India and China . However these claims were false and China had its representatives present there . The highlight of the morning was the flight display in which several aircraft performed intricate manoeuvres . HAL Tejas , which flew in a formation in public view for the first time , was a key highlight , as it performed a vertical climb and then did a belly turn right in front of the podium . While five Jaguars flew in a V - formation , the Sukhoi Su - 30MKI flew in a trident formation . Boeing ' s F / A - 18 Super Hornet , the Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale also performed loops , rolls , and somersaults in the air . The aerobatic team Surya Kiran did their last show with their Kiran aircraft which are planned to be replaced by new BAE Hawk aircraft . The aerobatic team of Czech Republic popularly known as Flying Bulls or Red Bull also performed for first time . Indian Aerospace Companies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL ) , National Aerospace Laboratories , Mahindra Aerospace , Taneja Aerospace ( TAAL ) and Tata Aerospace also participated in the event . 9th edition ( 2013 ) . Aero India 2013 started on 6 February 2013 at the IAF ' s Yelahanka Air Force base , Bangaluru and ended on 10 February 2013 . 607 companies attended the air show , with 352 foreign and 78 official national delegations . The major foreign companies were from US ( 67 companies ) , France ( 49 ) , United Kingdom ( 33 ) , Russia ( 29 ) and Germany ( 22 ) . Major attraction of this edition were the Dassault Rafale , Boeing C - 17 Globemaster III , HAL Rudra , HAL Tejas , HAL Light Combat Helicopter , and the Russian Knights aerobatic team , who had come to India to perform for the first time . Major aircraft manufacturing companies like Lockheed Martin , Saab , and the British Aerospace did not showcase any aircraft this time , however an air force F - 16 was part of the static display . The Suryakiran aerobatic team did not take part as it was grounded .