Aero India 2025: Fighter jets and U.S. bomber illuminate Bengaluru skies

After three days of intense ministerial-level meetings, conclaves, and signings of memoranda of understanding between major armament companies, the gates of the Air Force Station in Yelahanka were open to the general public on Thursday.

After three days of intense ministerial-level meetings, conclaves, and signings of memoranda of understanding between major armament companies, the gates of the Air Force Station in Yelahanka were open to the general public on Thursday.

The first half of day four of Aero India 2025 saw the Light Utility Helicopter, Su-30 Mki, F-16, Hansa, HTT-40, IJT, FBT, LCKA Mk-1A, and the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team taking part in the flying display.

Post lunch, the crowd which had gathered in large numbers at the air display viewing area and the open area near the tarmac got a glimpse of the United States Air Force (USAF) heavy  bomber, the B-1B Lancer. This was the B-1B Lancers’ first appearance at this year’s Aero India.

Though the participation of the B-1B Lancer, also known as ‘Bone’ (for B-one), was confirmed by the U.S. authorities, it had so far not performed in the air show. The B-1B Lancer landed at the Kempegowda International Airport on February 11 and it was stationed there for the last couple of days.

The aircraft which carries the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the USAF is considered the backbone of America’s long-range bomber force. The bomber did a couple of flypasts drawing the attention of the large crowd that had gathered at the air base.

This performance was followed by the Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft, the Su-57E, which has so far been the showstopper of the air show with its pilot Sergey Bogdan performing complex manoeuvres.

After a quick display by a couple of other platforms it was the turn of the U.S.’s F-35 to perform.