Russia’s ‘Felon’ a no-show but LIMA 2025 opens with a roar and a rumble

The internet had been buzzing in the run-up to the 17th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition 2025.

Two of the most highly-anticipated performers were the Russian Knights – the Russian Air Force’s elite aerobatic team – and the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, Nato codename ‘Felon’, long rumoured to be a strong contender for the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s next multirole combat aircraft (MRCA).

Both were supposed to arrive on May 19. But delays in Hainan, China, held them back. Sources told Twentytwo13 the delay was due to a neighbouring country’s refusal to grant overflight clearance for their route to Langkawi. We were at the end of Runway 03/21 until 7pm – but no sign of either.

This morning at 9.20am, the Russian Knights’ nine Sukhoi Su-35s finally touched down in Langkawi. But the ‘biggest’ star – the Felon – was a no-show. It remains unclear if the Su-57 will make an appearance at all.

This year’s LIMA – the largest defence and aerospace show in the region – opened to dark clouds and rumbling skies that threatened to ground everything before it even began. The 8.30am opening flying display came close to being washed out as Padang Matsirat was cloaked in brooding grey.

Miraculously, the weather held – for a while. By 9.30am, the clouds finally gave in. The flying display was suspended due to the downpour, and even the scheduled flypast by a US Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and a brace of F/A-18F Super Hornets from the USS Nimitz had to be delayed to 12.30pm.

First up was the Sukhoi Su-30MKM of the Royal Malaysian Air Force – looking absolutely resplendent in a spectacular livery featuring the Malaysian crescent moon and 14-pointed star emblazoned across its planform.

The Flanker, dubbed ‘Toruk Makto’, was piloted by none other than the chief of the air force, Datuk Seri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, callsign ‘Gunjiz’, with Col Mohamad Norazan Othman, callsign ‘Sting’, riding in the backseat. The duo wasted no time in kicking off the aerial display with authority and flair.

With the roar of its twin Lyulka AL-31FP engines echoing through the humid Langkawi skies, the jet tore through the air with a series of high-G turns, vertical climbs, and knife-edge passes. Each manoeuvre squeezed moisture from the heavy morning air, producing thick bursts of ‘vapes’ – the kind that aviation geeks live for. The crowd was treated to multiple low passes that rattled the eardrums and stirred the soul.

Following that thunderous opening, the skies saw a complete change of rhythm.

Next up were the Jupiter Aerobatic Team from Indonesia, bringing precision and elegance in nine KT-1B turboprop trainers. Flying in tight formation, their red-and-white aircraft danced gracefully against the grey canvas above Langkawi. Loops, heart-shaped trails, and perfectly-timed rolls drew cheers from the ground, their slower pace offering a calm contrast after the raw aggression of the Su-30MKM.

Then came the moment many had been waiting for.

At exactly 2.30pm, the Russian Knights made their long-awaited entrance. Their Su-35S fighters – sleek, agile, and unapologetically loud – screamed across Langkawi’s airspace. The team performed in full force, showing off tight diamond formations, synchronised barrel rolls, and gravity-defying vertical climbs. Their aerial ballet was a masterclass in coordination and raw thrust, drawing gasps and applause from aviation enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike.

The Knights wrapped up at 2.43pm, ending their performance with a thunderous break manoeuvre that left smoke trails and open mouths in its wake.

It was a strong start to the 17th edition of LIMA – a reminder that despite cloudy skies, Langkawi still knows how to put on a proper airshow.

LIMA 2025 features over 500 exhibitors from 30 countries, with more than 100 aircraft and 40 naval assets taking part – making it one of the most ambitious editions yet. China, India, Turkiye, and Iran are among the biggest participants, boasting sprawling booths and large national pavilions that signal growing influence in regional security and defence technology.

Langkawi is once again the stage where diplomacy, defence tech, and spectacle meet – and even when the weather threatens to ground things, the show goes on.

Main image: Royal Malaysian Air Force