Rafale Jets To Be The Highlight Of Republic Day

Nine Rafale will be showcased!

On the 74th Republic Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path, Fifty aircrafts will take part which will include an aerial display by nine Rafale and the Navy's IL-38 which will be showcased for the first and perhaps the last time, a senior IAF official said.

IL-38 is a maritime reconnaissance aircraft of the Indian Navy that has served for nearly 42 years, he said.

"It will be showcased during the Republic Day parade here for the first time and perhaps for the last time also. It will be among the 50 aircraft that will take part in the event," the IAF official said.

These 50 aircraft will include four from the Army as well, he then added.

At a press interaction here, the Indian Air Force also unveiled a model of the IAF tableau that will be showcased during the January 26 parade.

The theme of the IAF tableau is "Indian Air Force: Power beyond Boundaries" and will showcase some of the major assets of the IAF, including a few which have been recently inducted.

This will be the first Republic Day celebrations hosted at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed Kartavya Path in the year 2022.

Nine Rafale aircraft will also be part of the flypast during the celebrations, the IAF official said.

"Four Rafale will be part of the Netra formation and other four will be seen in Vajrang formation with a C-130 aircraft, and one will perform the 'Vertical Charlie' at the end of the flypast," he later added.

The IAF official said, besides the IL-38 naval aircraft, the formations like 'Bheem' and 'Vajrang' will be showcased over the Kartavya Path for the first time.