New Delhi8 hours ago
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Apart from IL-38, formations like ‘Bheem’ and ‘Vajrang’ will be displayed on the duty path for the first time.
India celebrated 75th Republic Day this year. This year 50 aircraft will take part in the parade. Of this, there will be a flypast by nine Rafales and the Navy’s IL-38, which will be participating in the program for the first and last time. A senior Indian Air Force official told that the IL-38 is an aircraft of the Indian Navy, which has served in the army for about 42 years.
He said that out of the 50 aircraft seen on the duty path, four will be from the army. In a press conference, the Indian Air Force also unveiled a model of the IAF tableau, which will be displayed during the 26 January parade. The theme of the IAF tableau is ‘Indian Air Force: Power Beyond Borders’ and it will showcase some of the key assets of the IAF.
The IL- 38 was a long-range and all-weather aircraft. It was retired on January 17, 2022.
4 Rafale will be part of Netra formation
This will be the first Republic Day celebration to be held on the formal main road after Rajpath was renamed as Kartavya Path last year. The Air Force official said that 9 Rafale aircraft will also be part of the fly past during the ceremony. He said – four Rafale will be part of Netra formation, four will be in Bajrang formation with C-130 aircraft and one will perform ‘Vertical Charlie’ at the last of the fly past.
Aerial formations like ‘Bhim’ and ‘Bajrang’ will be seen in the fly past
When asked what would be displayed during the fly past for the first time, the IAF official said- Apart from the IL-38, formations like ‘Bheem’ and ‘Bajrang’ would be displayed on the duty path for the first time. In the ‘Bhima’ formation, a C-17 aircraft will be surrounded by two Sukhoi-30s and in the ‘Bajrang’ formation, a C-130 aircraft will be surrounded by four Rafale aircraft.
In the year 2022, 75 aircraft of the three armies took part in a spectacular fly past showcasing India’s military might.
Officer said – temperature low, but ‘josh’ high
Other aerial formations during the fly past will include ‘Dhwaj’, ‘Rudra’, ‘Baz’, ‘Prachanda’, ‘Tiranga’, ‘Tangail’, ‘Garuda’, ‘Amrit’ and ‘Trishul’. The marching contingent of 144 Indian Air Force personnel will be led by Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy, 32, with three additional officers – Flight Lieutenant Ayush Agarwal (25), Flight Lieutenant Tanuj Malik (26) and Flight Lieutenant Pradhan Nikhil (24).
Everyone is excited about the Republic Day Parade as they all will be participating in the Republic Day celebrations for the first time. A native of Bangalore, Reddy, who was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2013, said it was a great honor to lead his contingent on the Path of Duty. Flight Lieutenant Aggarwal said – It is our duty to protect the borders of this country. Flight Lieutenant Malik, a resident of Sonipat, says the temperature is low, but the ‘josh’ is high.
Air Force Band Continental to play marching tune
Officials said the marching tunes for the IAF contingent will be played by the Air Force Band Continental, comprising 72 musicians and three drum majors. The IAF Band contingent will be led by Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar, who has the distinction of leading the contingent for 16 years and has participated in the Republic Day celebrations for the last 26 years.