MILITARY MIGHT AT R-DAY PARADE

Anti-satellite weapon ‘Shakti’, lethal artillery gun ‘Dhanush’, and newly-inducted helicopters Apache and Chinook were among the key military assets showcased by India for the first time at the Republic Day parade on 26 January.

Scaled-down models of IAF’s Rafale aircraft and Indian Navy’s Kolkata-class stealth destroyer and a Kalvari-class submarine were also displayed during the ceremonial event.

Besides Rafale, the IAF tableau also depicted scaled-down models four other systems recently added to its inventory -- indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas , Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), surface-to-air guided weapon Aakash missile and Astra missiles.

Around 40 aircraft of the IAF and four helicopters of the Army’s aviation arm took part in the Republic Day flypast. These included Apache, Su-30 MKIs, C-17 Globemasters.

In the mechanised columns, three indigenously-developed battle tank T-90 Bhishma, three Ballaway Machine Pikate, three K-9 Vajra gun system, two transportable satellite terminal (TST) and two Akash surface-to-air-missiles, were also showcased.

The Navy’s tableau also showcased model of country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant with MiG29K aircraft and depicted the force’s humanitarian assistance during the Maharashatra floods last year.

‘MISSION SHAKTI’: In perhaps a first, a defence scientist – Y Sreenivasa Rao – led the DRDO contingent displaying the indigenous Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASAT) from ‘Mission Shakti’ at the 71st Republic Day parade.