Republic Day 2024: In a striking display commemorating the 75th Republic Day, the Indian Air Force on Friday, January 26, showcased the Trishul Formation during the fly-past, featuring the Sukhoi-30 Mk-I aircraft.
The 'Tangail formation' was also on display during the fly-past, featuring the heritage aircraft Dakota flanked by two Dornier Do-228 aircraft. Notably, the Dornier aircraft flew using a blend of Aviation Turbine Fuel and Biofuel, as previously announced by the Indian Air Force.
The fly-past featured six Rafale aircraft over the Kartavya Path in 'Marut' during the Republic Day celebrations.
The fly-past began with one LCH aircraft in lead and two Apache helicopters and two Mk-IV aircraft in echelon fly in five-aircraft Arrow formation.
French President Emmanuel Macron graced the occasion as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations.
The Republic Day parade highlighted significant displays of made-in-India weapon systems and platforms from the Indian Army, demonstrating advanced capabilities. Key attractions included the LCH Prachand chopper, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, and Nag anti-tank missiles.
As reported by ANI, the LCH Prachand stood out as the inaugural indigenous Multi-Role Combat Helicopter, manufactured by HAL. Renowned for its formidable ground attack and aerial combat capabilities, the helicopter features modern stealth attributes, robust armour protection, and impressive night attack capabilities.
The LCH is designed for optimal performance on the modern battlefield. It is equipped with an advanced navigation system, close combat-tailored guns, and potent air-to-air missiles.
In addition to the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), the Republic Day parade showcased the weaponized variant of the ALH Dhruv helicopters, known as the Rudra.
The displayed weapon systems also included the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and the Swathi radar, both successfully exported to international customers through Indian entities. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), both the Pinaka and Swathi radar systems have demonstrated their prowess. With a total seating capacity of 77,000, including 42,000 reserved for the general public, the parade commenced at 10:30 hours and was expected to last approximately 90 minutes.
The Defense Secretary announced that the 'Beating Retreat' ceremony at Vijay Chowk on January 29 will exclusively feature Indian tunes, serving as a fitting conclusion to the 75th Republic Day celebrations.