The Armed Forces Festival, organised by Surya Command, unfolded on September 3 at Surya Khel Parisar in Lucknow Cantonment. The three-day event from September 3 to 5, was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The festival will continue till Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM for all citizens.
The event witnessed the participation of thousands of people, including students from various schools and colleges, NCC cadets and citizens of Lucknow. More than 8,000 attendees of all age groups saw an exhibition featuring India's latest military equipment such as tanks, helicopters, artillery guns etc. These equipments have been developed as part of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
Showcasing the technology driven Indian Armed Forces. the notable exhibits included T-90 tank (Main Battle Tank of Indian Army), K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery gun, Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) Swathi, Sarvatra Bridge System, Counter IED equipment, and models of ALH and LCH Prachand Helicopters, among others.
Live displays showcased the capabilities of India's state-of-the-art equipment. These included para drop and combat demonstrations by Special Forces, extraction of troops by helicopters, para motors and microlight flying, and horse and dog show that were the key attraction of the event.
Adding to the event's captivity were the marshal tunes played by the Indian Navy's Band and the Naval Pavilion, which showcased three dimensional naval capabilities, Aatmanirbharta, and recent innovations at various stalls and displays.
These stalls showcased naval history by Maritime History Society, several models of ships, submarines and aircraft, diving equipment, outreach program for naval veterans, remote systems support, latest communication and indigenous system, and career opportunities in the Indian Navy. The event also featured informative counters for veterans that served as valuable hub, offering resources, support and networking opportunity.
According to a statement by the government, the flypast by Indian Air Force's Jaguar Fighter Aircrafts was viewed with great interest by the Generation next. "Stalls of Indian Air Force featured an array of interactive exhibits including advanced aircraft models, simulation displays and information panels that highlighted its achievements, ongoing missions, and future aspirations. It also showcased its state of the art 'Inducted Publicity Exhibition Vehicle'. The flying simulator of IPEV and synchronised display of weapon drill specially drew attraction of young minds," the press release stated.
Addressing the audience, the Chief Guest Yogi Adityanath lauded all three services and, Surya Command in particular, for organising the massive event. He urged the students and NCC cadets to draw inspiration from the Armed Forces. He also expressed his confidence that the technologically advanced Armed Forces has the capability to defend the country against all odds and any enemy.
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC -in-C, Central Command presented a memento to the UP CM. Later, Yogi Aditynath also visited the exhibits by the three services, NCC, Recruitment. and Resettlement Organisation.