This year’s Air Force Day parade line-up includes frontline fighter jets such as the Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and MiG-29, alongside the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system.
Heavy-lift aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster III and the C-130J Super Hercules will also feature prominently. The Apache attack helicopter equipped with Longbow radar and the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) will also be displayed. The indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System and the S-band Rohini radar will further showcase India’s growing defence technology capabilities.
A special tribute will be paid to the recently retired MiG-21 Bison, which served the IAF for over six decades. Notably, the Bison played an operational role in Operation Sindoor along the western air corridor.
The IAF will also highlight its growing international footprint, with participation in multinational exercises such as Red Flag Alaska, Desert Knight, Udara Shakti in Malaysia and Bright Star in Egypt.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s 2025 mission to the International Space Station will also be celebrated, marking the IAF’s first foray into human spaceflight.
During Monday’s dress rehearsal, the IAF’s role as a “first responder” in humanitarian missions was prominently highlighted. From flood relief in Uttarkashi and Punjab to earthquake response in Myanmar, the Air Force’s swift action in disaster zones was acknowledged during the dress rehearsal.
(With inputs from ANI)
