F-35 faces Su-57 for the first time… at an air show in India

The Aero India 2025 air show will be the first to simultaneously feature the American F-35 and F-16 and the Russian Su-57.

The Indian media DT Next reported on this.

The landing of these aircraft marks a historic moment, as it will be the first time that both the United States and Russia have demonstrated their aircraft at the same air show.

The U.S. Air Combat Command caused a stir when it unexpectedly announced that the F-35 and F-16 would not participate in Aero India 2025. However, it eventually changed its mind and F-35s from the 388th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force and F-16s from the Viper Demonstration Group arrived at the Yelahanka airfield, where the air show will take place.

They will be displayed both statically and in the air, alongside the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI, the Indian Navy’s Rafale, and the MiG-29K.

Russia’s Su-57 arrived at the show a few days earlier and will also be on display both static and in demonstration flights.

The exhibition will also feature a full-scale model of India’s long-awaited fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the AMCA.

In 2023, the first model of the new aircraft was presented. In 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of India approved the full development and the corresponding funding package for the development.

The committee allocated about $1.8 billion to develop a new generation fighter jet. This funding will be used for full-scale development and testing of the aircraft.

Also, the allocated financial package should cover future flight tests and aircraft certification.

In total, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited plans to build five prototypes of the fighter jet. These will be tested in the largest tests ever conducted in India.

It is not yet officially announced when the aircraft will enter service, but the approximate date is 2035.