January 20, 2023
3 mins read

R-Day: Rafale jets to lead air show this year

The marching tunes for the contingent will be played by the Air Force Band contingent consisting of 72 musicians and three drum majors. …reports Asian Lite News

9 Rafale jets among 45 Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft will be in the fly-past during the 74th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.

According to the Indian Air Force on Wednesday, the fly-past will comprise 45 IAF aircraft, including 9 Rafale Jets and four helicopters from the IA. The IL 38 Jet of the Indian Air Force will take part for the last time in the parade. The fly past would comprise formations of Dhwaj, Rudra, Baaz, Tiranga Garuda Bheem Amrit Thriul and Vijay.

Meanwhile, marching contingent of IAF for the Republic Day parade will be led by a woman officer of the Indian Air Force, Sqn Ldr Sindhu Reddy.

Comprising four officers and 144 air warriors marching in a box formation, the contingent will be led by Sqn Ldr Reddy, along with three supernumerary officers — Flt Lt Ayush Agarwal, Flt Lt Tanuj Mailk and Flt Lt Pradhan Nikhil.

The IAF had won the Best Marching Contingent trophy in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2020. The award of the Best Marching Contingent in the popular choice category in 2022 was also won by it.

The marching tunes for the contingent will be played by the Air Force Band contingent consisting of 72 musicians and three drum majors. The band would be led by Warrant Ashok Kumar who has the distinction of participating in the RD Parade Airforce band contingent for the past 26 Years, and of leading the contingent for the past 16 years.

As per the IAF, the famous martial tune, ‘Sound Barrier’ composed by MWO J.A. George V.S.M. and Ladakoo composed by Flt Lt L.S. Rupachandra would be played on ‘Quick March’ while the contingent marches past the President. The Band would also play other martial tunes like Astronaut, Vijay Bharat, Space Flight, Vayu Shakti, Benihal, Saare Jahaan Se Accha, Northern Border, Tiger Hill and Nidar Yodha.

The theme of the IAF Tableau is ‘Indian Air Force Power, Beyond Boundaries’. A Rotating Globe placed on the Tableau highlights the IAF’s expanded reach whereby it has been able to render humanitarian aid across borders, as also flying exercises conducted with Air Forces of Friendly Foreign Countries.

‘Netra’ is an Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft that carries indigenous payloads. Having enmeshed linkages with the GSAT-7A, the IAF’s IACCS (as depicted by the operator on the console) and other flying platforms depicts truly how well the IAF has embraced NCW across multiple domains.

The LCA Tejas MK-II is a single engine canard Delta wing, Multi role Combat Aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency. The Fighter which will have a more powerful engine & more potent sensors is being designed and developed to replace fighter aircraft of the IAF.

LCH Prachand recently inducted into the IAF is capable of high altitude operations and is armed with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles which can be carried along with a 20 mm turret gun, air-to-air missiles and 70 mm rockets.

Airbus C-295 aircraft will be a replacement of the Avro aircraft and will bolster the logistics capability of the IAF. All aircraft are planned to be fitted with indigenous electronic warfare suites. The Manufacturing facility in India would not only cater for IAF’s requirement but would also make India a net defence exporter.

The IAF has also transcended traditional boundaries by inducting women who undertake all tasks equally with their male counterparts. In doing so, the IAF has become the lead Service in promoting Naari Shakti in its true spirit.

The Special Forces (Garuds) and their specialist equipment have added strength to the IAF’s combat capability. Their performance proved crucial in the safe recovery of Indians from a disturbed country in the recent past, the IAF said.

After the Republic Day parade, the Beating the Retreat ceremony will be held at Vijay Chowk 29 January 29. As many as 120 musicians of the IAF will participate in the event. The Conductor for the ceremony will be the IAF’s Director of Music, Flt Lt L.S. Rupachandra.

ALSO READ: Egyptian editor lauds India’s key role in evolving global order

Previous Story

Britain has changed domestically, says Tharoor

Next Story

New Delhi set to host the biggest drone show on R-Day

Latest from India News

Modi Meets Xi in Tianjin

During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the progress of India-China ties since last meet in Russia’s Kazan in 2024…reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with

India-Africa trade soars past $100bn

20th CII India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi drew over 1,600 delegates from 64 countries, underscored a strategic shift in the partnership between the two…reports Asian Lite News In a landmark moment

Trump’s India Tariffs Risk Backfiring

The so-called Trump–Modi “bromance” appears to have cooled when India refused to credit Trump for “stopping” the recent India-Pakistan flare-up, writes Loveena Tandon…reports Asian Lite News Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian goods

Rare Medicinal Plant Found in the Western Ghats

The plant, Strobilanthes jomyi—locally known as Jomyi Kurinji—is found only in the remote Paandi and Periya forest regions of Kerala’s Western Ghats…reports Asian Lite news A breakthrough discovery from India has drawn

Modi Visit Boosts Sino-Indian Ties

Observers noted that Modi’s visit is being closely watched, particularly in the context of India-China relations, which have faced strain since the border clashes of 2020….reports Asian Lite News Chinese Ambassador to
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Suspense over non-Yadav OBC votes in UP, which way they are moving?

In recent ministerial induction in the state and at the

Why India still an untapped consumer market

The prospects for the entertainment sector are just as promising,