A significant change is coming to this year’s Republic Day Parade, as a unified triservice tableau will represent the armed forces on Kartavya Path, replacing the traditional three separate displays. Notably, the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv will be absent due to a grounding of the fleet. This follows a January 5 incident where a Coast Guard helicopter crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of two pilots and a diver.
The flypast will feature an impressive lineup of 44 aircraft, including 22 fighter jets, 11 transport aircraft, and seven helicopters. However, to prioritize safety, no single-engine aircraft will participate, which means the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will also be missing from the showcase. Consequently, the flypast will predominantly feature foreign fighter jets, underscoring ongoing modernization challenges faced by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Operating from ten different bases, the flypast will conclude with a Rafale jet executing the dramatic ‘vertical charlie’ maneuver, as detailed by IAF officials on Thursday.
The IAF marching contingent consists of four officers, including the Contingent Commander, Sqn. Ldr. Mahender Singh, alongside three supernumerary officers and 144 airmen. The contingent will also include the IAF band, featuring 72 musicians, notably 22 Agniveer Vayu personnel.
For the Beating The Retreat ceremony scheduled from January 27 to 28, culminating on January 29, the IAF Band will perform with 121 musicians under the direction of Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar.
As is customary, the Republic Day parade will begin with a tribute at the National War Memorial, attended by the Prime Minister and an inter-services guard consisting of 21 members along with buglers from each service. The IAF marching contingent has previously earned accolades as the best marching unit in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2020.
