Aero India 2025: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu takes sortie in indigenous fighter jet

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu took the remarkable experience of flying a jet as part of the prestigious Aero India 2025 event in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The minister took a sortie on indigenous jet aircraft HJT-36 'Yashas', manufactured by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The five-day event is set to provide a stage to forge international collaborations to fast-track the indigenisation process, providing a thrust to the Narendra Modi government’s 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) vision by 2047.

After completing the activity, Naidu took to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) to share his experience. “An unforgettable experience of flying a jet at Aero India 2025. Had the incredible opportunity to do a sortie on the HJT-36 'Yashas', a remarkable jet aircraft proudly made in India by HAL. This indigenous marvel is a testament to India's growing prowess in aerospace and defence manufacturing. Thrilled to witness Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision soaring to new heights with state-of-the-art avionics,” he posted on X. 

ఏరో ఇండియా-2025లో భాగంగా యుద్ధ విమానాన్ని నడిపడం.. మరచిపోలేని అనుభూతినిచ్చింది. హెచ్ఏఎల్ స్వదేశంలో సగర్వంగా తయారు చేసిన హెచ్ జేటీ-36 'యశస్' అనే అద్భుతమైన జెట్ విమానంలో ప్రయాణించే అరుదైన అవకాశం లభించింది. విమానయాన, రక్షణ తయారీలో రోజురోజుకూ పెరుగుతున్న పరాక్రమానికి ఈ స్వదేశీ… pic.twitter.com/0uKdwqRLiE

— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) February 11, 2025

Naidu’s participation in the event signifies India’s remarkable progress in achieving self-sufficiency in defense production. His experience underscores the growing strength of the country’s aerospace sector and highlights the role of HAL in driving India’s defense aviation capabilities.

With Aero India 2025 setting the stage for advancements in aviation, India continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in aerospace technology, reflecting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, according to an official statement. 

On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 15th edition of Aero India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on February 10, 2025, exuding confidence that the event will showcase the country’s industrial capability and technological advancements to the world while cementing its symbiotic relations with friendly countries.

“Aero India 2025, a confluence of critical and frontier technologies, will provide a platform to further strengthen relations among like-minded countries based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual benefit to deal with today's uncertainties,” said the Defence Minister.

The five-day event is set to witness the participation of government representatives, industry leaders, Air Force officers, scientists, defence sector experts, start-ups, academia and other stakeholders from around the globe.