Watch: The Stunning Republic Day Flypast by IAF Aircraft, Choppers
The cold & fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd who turned up to witness the Republic Day festivities.
The grand finale of the Republic Day parade was a spectacular flypast by a number of India Air Force aircraft and choppers.
The flypast commenced with the 'Rudra' formation, comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in the 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Trailing them were the 'Netra', which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also known as 'Eye in the Sky'.
'Netra' was followed by the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs among others.
The IAF also fielded a tableau, with the theme – 'Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation'. It displayed models of the Tejas Multirole Fighter Aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and the Akash missile system.
Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators who witnessed the nearly one-and-half-hour-long parade that marched down the eight-kilometre stretch from the Rajpath to the Red Fort amid an unprecedented security cover.
The ASEAN leaders joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Republic Day parade, making it an unprecedented event.
The parade was commanded by Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. The supreme commander of the Indian armed forces President Kovind took the salute at the parade.
Minutes before the parade began, the Prime Minister, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air force paid tributes at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.
As per tradition, after unfurling the national flag, the national anthem was played followed by a 21 gun salute.
(With inputs from PTI and Press Information Bureau.)
Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
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