India to showcase military might at R-Day parade

New Delhi, Jan 23: Showcasing India's military might, the Army will display its T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBT), Agni-4 missile and Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) at the Republic Day parade on Thursday.

"Marching contingents on the Rajpath would include mounted troops from 61st Cavalry, mechanized columns and 11 regiments of the Indian Army followed by a flypast of ALH from Army Aviation Corps," said parade second-in-command Major General Rajbir Singh.

The parade would be commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Delhi Area, Lieutenant General V K Pillai.

Maj Gen Singh further informed that the one-and-a-half hour long parade would begin with national salute followed by presentation of one Ashok Chakra.

"The parade would begin with the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) and Ashok Chakra (AC) awardees marching on the Rajpath which would be followed by the mounted cavalry troops, mechanized column and three ALH," he said.

Besides Smerch and Pinaka rocket launchers, army contingent would also feature NBC water purification system, jammers, and march past by 'Canine Force' of the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC).

The army contingent would be followed by the tableaux from Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF).

While Navy is showcasing a Delhi-class destroyer, IL-38 reconnaissance aircraft and a UAV positioned atop a globe, IAF's marching contingent would be followed by the tableau of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and Mi-17 choppers.

For the first time, the IAF marching contingent would be commanded by a women officer Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat.

PTI