In first, US F-35 and Russian Su-57 take to the skies at Aero India (original) (raw)

The F-35 display at Aero India comes two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US to meet President Donald Trump. (Express photo by Jithendra M)

The Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 Lightning II — two of the world’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft — took to the skies of Bengaluru on the first day of Aero India on Monday, offering defence enthusiasts a glimpse of their manoeuvres at the same event for the very first time.

Their performances were clear showstoppers, overshadowing even the traditionally acrobatic display by the Surya Kiran team.

It was the Su-57’s debut at Aero India. The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, had participated in the previous edition of the premier defence exposition.

Akshara Patel, an aircraft enthusiast, said the display by both fifth-generation aircraft surprised her. “I was not expecting that both would hit the skies. It was spectacular to see both of them performing,” she said.

Russian aircraft Su-57. (Express photo by Jithendra M)

The F-35 display at Aero India comes two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US to meet President Donald Trump.

The Defence Ministry had said in a statement the previous day: “It marks a milestone in global defence collaboration and technological advancement, offering aviation enthusiasts and defence experts an unparalleled prospect to witness these state-of-the-art warplanes.”

The Su-57, designed to compete with the US’s F-22 Raptor and F-35, has better agility and can supercruise. The F-35, meanwhile, is known for its stealth capabilities and sensors.

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Russia, which has about 76 Su-57s, is looking to sell the aircraft to India and UAE. The F-35 has more than 3,000 orders, which includes supply to NATO countries.

Describing the Su-57, the Defence Ministry statement had said: “Russia’s premier stealth multi-role fighter is designed for stellar air superiority and strike capabilities.”

“Equipped with advanced avionics, supercruise capability and stealth technology, it is making its debut at Aero India 2025. Visitors can expect high-speed aerial manoeuvres and tactical demonstrations that highlight the fighter’s agility, stealth and firepower,” the statement said.

On the F-35 Lightning II, the ministry said Lockheed Martin’s “most widely-deployed fifth-generation fighter, integrates advanced stealth, unparalleled situational awareness and networked combat capabilities”.