The inaugural Bangalore Air Show took place in 2006, launched by the Indian Ministry of Defence in partnership with local aerospace firms to showcase domestic capabilities and attract foreign investment. At a time when India’s civilian aviation market was expanding rapidly, the show provided a platform for indigenous manufacturers to demonstrate emerging technologies.

By 2012, the exhibition had outgrown its original venue at Bangalore’s HAL Airport, prompting a move to the expansive Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre. This shift mirrored the country’s growing confidence in its aerospace sector and the increasing global interest in Indian aerospace contracts.