New Delhi: In one of the biggest display of India's fighter strength, a total of 75 aircraft will participate in Republic Day parade flypast over Rajpath this year which includes the aviation assets of Indian Navy and Indian Army, IAF said on Monday.
The IAF along with Indian Army and Indian Navy will showcase its might with fifteen different formations in the sky during the Republic Day flypast.
"The aerial display plan has been prepared keeping with Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava. The aviation arms of Army and Navy will also participate in the flypast this year," IAF PRO Wg Cdr Indranil Nandi said.
To commemorate the Tangail air drop operation of the 1971 war, the flypast also includes Tangail formation in which one Dakota and two Dornier aircraft will fly in a victory formation, he said. The Indian Army's para commandos conducted the successful Tangail airdrop operation on 11 December 1971 during the India Pakistan war of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh.
Besides, five Rafale aircraft will fly in Vinaash formation for the first time over Rajpath on Republic Day. Two MiG29K aircraft of the Indian Navy and one P-8I surveillance aircraft will also fly in Varuna formation. The flypast will conclude with 17 Jaguar fighters flying over Rajpath in the shape of 75 to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava.
The indigenous Tejas, however, will not be part of the flypast this year.
IAF tableau will showcase model of the Gnat aircraft used in 1971 war with Pakistan on a 50 feet long tractor along with a MiG 21, an LCH and Rafale aircraft. The Gnat aircraft showed such dominance over the Pakistani Saber jets that it was also nicknamed as the 'Saber Slayer'. The theme of the tableau will be IAF transforming for the future.
Due to the increasing cases of Covid in New Delhi, the celebration will be a low key affair in terms of presence on Rajpath this year. (UNI)