New Delhi: The indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fighter aircraft will not be part of this year’s Republic Day parade.
Developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the ALH and several of its variants have been part of the Republic Day flypast over the years. However, after a crash that killed three Coast Guard personnel on 5 January in Gujarat’s Porbandar, the entire fleet of 330 ALHs serving the Coast Guard as well as the three armed forces has been grounded.
Like the ALH, the homegrown fighter aircraft Tejas will be missing from the flypast. Sources aware of the development said that the Tejas, which debuted in the Republic Day parade in 2017, will not be part of the flypast since it is a single-engine aircraft.
Overall, 40 aircraft will participate in the flypast for which 22 fighters, 11 transport aircraft and seven helicopters will be flown from operating bases such as Nal, Phalodi, Ambala, Sirsa, Polo Ground, Jodhpur, Adampur, Chandigarh, Palam and Hindon.
The first formation of the flypast will be the Dhwaj formation comprising four Mi-17 helicopters carrying the national flag and flags of the three armed services.
This will be followed by the Baaz formation of three MiG-29. The Ajay formation will comprise three Apaches. Further, the Satluj formation will comprise one An-32 and two Do-228. The Coast Guard will be represented by three Dorniers in the Rakshak formation. The Arjan formation will consist of one C-130 and two C-295.
The Netra formation will have one Embraer and two Sukhoi 30 aircraft. Moreover, the Bheem formation will have one C-17 and two Su-30 MKIs. Five Jaguars will fly in the Amrit formation, while six Rafales showcase Vajraang formation. Three Su-30s will then zoom above Kartavya Path in the Trishul formation.
A Rafale fighter jet will then mark the finale with Vertical Charlie, tearing into the sky rapidly from a low altitude and performing rolls before stabilising finally.
Highlighting jointness, the armed services this year have decided to roll down a single triservice tableau during the Republic Day parade, instead of service-specific tableaux which is usually the case.
Apart from its flying assets taking part in the traditional flypast, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in the Republic Day parade with ceremonial marching and band contingents. The IAF marching contingent will consist of four officers and 144 other personnel smartly striding ahead to the tune of the air force band.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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