F-35A Lightning II to Only Participate as Static Display at Aero India 2025, Aerial Maneuvers Cancelled

The United States Air Force has confirmed that the F-35A Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter jet, will not be performing flight demonstrations at Aero India 2025.

According to the Air Force's official website and reporting by 'The Hindu,' two F-35s will be present at the air show in Bengaluru, but they will be limited to a static display.

This means visitors will have the opportunity to view the aircraft up close on the ground, but will not witness its aerial capabilities in flight.

This news comes as a shift from initial expectations, as the F-35A has been a highlight of previous international air shows with its impressive flight demonstrations.

The reasons for this change remain unclear, but several factors could be at play. These include operational commitments, logistical challenges, or a strategic decision to emphasize other aspects of the aircraft or accompanying defence technologies.

While the lack of flight demonstrations may disappoint some attendees, the static display still offers a valuable opportunity to examine the F-35's advanced technology. Potential buyers, industry experts, and aviation enthusiasts can scrutinize the aircraft's design features and capabilities at ground level.

The decision to limit the F-35 to a static display also highlights the complexities of international military exhibitions like Aero India, where geopolitical considerations, security concerns, and commercial interests often intersect.

Despite the change in plans, the presence of the F-35 at Aero India 2025 is significant. It underscores the ongoing strategic partnership between India and the United States, particularly in the realm of defence cooperation and technology transfer.

As the Indian Air Force seeks to modernize its fleet, the F-35, even in a static display, remains a point of interest and could influence future procurement decisions.

Aero India 2025 is expected to attract a global audience and showcase cutting-edge aerospace and defence technology from around the world. The event provides a platform for industry leaders, government officials, and defence personnel to engage in discussions and forge partnerships that shape the future of the aerospace and defence sectors.

 

[Akshat]

It flys in every major airshow in the West.
It's no longer a novelty.

Yes it does. But it hasn't seen 70% order cuts by the home nation or rejection by confirmed partners who poured hundreds of millions into the program but then left it due to dismal performance.

 

[Akshat]

Another one crashed 😠

Bro...accidents are a part and parcel of such platforms.

 

[Akshat]

So why they did they make it to 2023 airshow? You mean to say it wasn't stealthy with amazing avionics that time? Or was US lying in 2023?

Bro, it's not designed to do air shows. But it can do those. When US wants it.

 

[Enforcer]

For sake of transparency, the crash was the 11th F-35 hull loss in 25 incidents. That is from a production run that is around 1,100 jets so far, translating to an attrition rate of about 1%.

Also remember the earlier crashes happened due to error in the software. Those known errors have been fixed so far. Meaning there is even less chances of it crashing.

 

[beencensured]

How many F-35s have been built so far?
If you look at it from that perspective and compare to other contemporary fighter-jets around the world, that should give you real comparative data point.
Looking at the numbers in isolation doesn't do justice to the effort of thousand of scientists and workers involved in production of a trillion dollar platform.

The availabilty time is low, and maintenance is high.

 

[Preet]

Bro...accidents are a part and parcel of such platforms.

Yes but when dhruv crashes, u will cry over HAL.. when Apache and F35 crash, u go silent 🤫

 

[Akshat]

Yes but when dhruv crashes, u will cry over HAL.. when Apache and F35 crash, u go silent 🤫

I never go silent. Dhruv's crashes are a design problem. Apache crashes haven't been due to that, or at least that hasn't been proven or even claimed by any official.

 

[Preet]

I never go silent. Dhruv's crashes are a design problem. Apache crashes haven't been due to that, or at least that hasn't been proven or even claimed by any official.

Yea bcoz westerners do real and honest enquiries and HAL doesn't.. right?
Apaches were grounded recently due to several accidents.. but meh..
F35 nosedives but thats nothing.. it happens..
Tejas crashes, dhruv crashes.. oh oh engine, oh oh design failure.. did u cry so much when Adanis Drishti drone crashed? Or thats where ur agenda fails? 🤣 have some shame and be consistent and don't be an agenda peddler buddy!!

 

[Enforcer]

We need F-35 to conjunctively Co-operate in the QUAD. Japan, Australia and USA has F-35. I want the QUAD agreement to get some teeth without becoming a Faux Nato member. QUAD if set up properly can enjoy security level akin to Nato in south asia. There are ways to do it right where we don't loose friendship with russia.

Also buying F-35 and other american equipment gives us more leverage in Washington and makes us a little bit more sanction proof.

 

[Avada kedavra]

Well, there is a case to be made that BVR combat is more suitable than close-quarters dogfighting.

unless somehow fighter jets can be made agile enough to dodge an incoming missile.

But its as difficult as dodging a bullet for a human. Which is next to impossible if its a sniper shot from long distances.

 

[saffronsword]

Don't even bother bringing it......!!!!

 

[Akshat]

Yea bcoz westerners do real and honest enquiries and HAL doesn't.. right?
Apaches were grounded recently due to several accidents.. but meh..
F35 nosedives but thats nothing.. it happens..
Tejas crashes, dhruv crashes.. oh oh engine, oh oh design failure.. did u cry so much when Adanis Drishti drone crashed? Or thats where ur agenda fails? 🤣 have some shame and be consistent and don't be an agenda peddler buddy!!

The enquiries were done by IAF. Now tell me that you don't even trust our own soldiers?

Dhruv crashes due to design fault. But you won't say anything. But when western weapons are found flawless and crash due to human error, you have to go all ballistic and spread your agenda. Have some shame and stop defending the traitors.

 

[Preet]

The enquiries were done by IAF. Now tell me that you don't even trust our own soldiers?

Dhruv crashes due to design fault. But you won't say anything. But when western weapons are found flawless and crash due to human error, you have to go all ballistic and spread your agenda. Have some shame and stop defending the traitors.

I trust India's enquiries.. but you just said above you don't trust them.. if there is an issue in design, it's pretty late for it to arrive.. as India already operates 400 of them since 1992.. but well well.. Whatever booster rod design issue was there, it has been sorted out.. technical glitches too have been resolved..

I'm not defending anyone here, but just calling out your one sided propaganda.. i can fair and square criticize both HAL or IAF or Govt.. bcoz all of them have been wrong at several occasions.. Intelligent are the ones who can stay neutral and criticize when it's needed... stupid are those who propagate an agenda thinking they're going to change the world 🤣 someday just have a bit of shame and see what you do!! Unbiased self assessment is a must for you..

 

[Sandeep]

Makes sense. It’s pointless to show the F35 jet if they aren’t even going to offer to sell it to us. Also they won’t make any sales in India as they can do that from anywhere in the world.

We just need to concentrate in developing our own 100% 5th generation indigenous AMCA which will give us a major advantage based on technology, software, weapons and capabilities. We should manufacture all of the parts and components indigenously.

 

[BCharlie]

Bro...accidents are a part and parcel of such platforms.

Yes, true... then that is more the reason to have a static display at aero-india 2025; Its better to be safe than sorry;

 

[BCharlie]

How many F-35s have been built so far?

Lockheed has till today 1000 - F35s delivered.. Their production is 20 units per month;

 

[Avada kedavra]

True, as NATO avionics and sensors from jets to ships and tanks were always superior compared to their Soviet counterparts.

and it also begs the question why did india buy so much of their junk?

 

[SURESH RAO]

Rafale Empty weight is 10.8 tonnes. Su 57 empty weight is 18.5 tonnes. Su 57 is a beast.
Rafale M88 engine produces 75 kN thrust whereas Su 57 AL41 engine produces 144 kN thrust.

 

[Akshat]

Yes, true... then that is more the reason to have a static display at aero-india 2025; Its better to be safe than sorry;

You can't always be safe either. We don't know what the reason is. It might be just an operational or logistic issue or they might be giving us a diplomatic signal. Who knows.

 

[Akshat]

I trust India's enquiries.. but you just said above you don't trust them.. if there is an issue in design, it's pretty late for it to arrive.. as India already operates 400 of them since 1992.. but well well.. Whatever booster rod design issue was there, it has been sorted out.. technical glitches too have been resolved..

I'm not defending anyone here, but just calling out your one sided propaganda.. i can fair and square criticize both HAL or IAF or Govt.. bcoz all of them have been wrong at several occasions.. Intelligent are the ones who can stay neutral and criticize when it's needed... stupid are those who propagate an agenda thinking they're going to change the world 🤣 someday just have a bit of shame and see what you do!! Unbiased self assessment is a must for you..

Well if it has been sorted out then it's alright. FYI, I actually never criticized HAL for the design issues before this article. I never picked it up, in fact.

And yes, all of them have been wrong at some point. But you are the one refuse to criticize HAL (and ADA) for their delays like their delays in delivering the trainer jets of the original Tejas order for which engines had been delivered way back. Or their promise, in written, to put the plane into production by 2016 (and the claim was made in 2014, so whatever design they had would have been cleared and prototype would have been in the works. So the design was finalized but then changed, which shows that there must have been significant faults in the design. But you never acknowledge that or criticize them.

So indeed, someday just have some shame and see what you propagate. A deep introspection is the need of the hour for you.

 

[Kira]

and it also begs the question why did india buy so much of their junk?

To be sure, Indian ties only substantially increased with the West after the nuclear deal with the US and the fact that the Indian economy took off by the early 2000s, so India too can in turn afford these advanced and costly Western gear.

Also, only during the 1980s as the Western technological edge increased over the Russians due to the huge US lead in terms of advanced computing, the issues with Soviet hardware became apparent like costly and frequent maintenance issues, lack of advanced avionics and munitions, and of course the problematic spares situation after the Soviet collapse.

So India operated Soviet arms due to a lack of other cost-effective options, assured Soviet political support in foreign policy and PSU tendency to just assemble things supplied by the Russians instead of manufacturing their own competing products like the private sector.

 

[Oleg Olkha]

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