India’s military might to be on display during Republic Day Parade

New Delhi, Jan 25: The historic Rajpath is all decked up to showcase India's military might and other achievements on the occasion of 67th Republic Day celebrations tomorrow.

This year's R-Day Parade has many firsts, making it unique for the viewers and participants.

For the first time ever, a 76-member French Army contingent (military band consisting of 48 musicians) by Lt Col Paul Bury is marching on Rajpath.

An Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) will also be taking part after 26 years.

In another first, an Ex-Servicemen Tableau with Army veterans and their float will pass the saluting dais.
The eye-catching BSF Camel Regiment consisting of 56 camels will be led by Deputy Commandant Kuldeep J Choudhary will.

Ministry of Defence says that Indian Army's T-90 Bhishma tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System (ICEWS) will be part of the mechanised columns.

The marching contingents of Army will include horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, the Corps of Signals, the Rajput Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Assam Regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles and Remount Veterinary Corps Dog Squad.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is hitting Rajpath with the theme ‘Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations by IAF: In Service of the Nation and Beyond'.

The IAF tableau showcases its role in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Yemen and Nepal rescue and relief operations.

The Indian Navy's tableau will display flight deck operations on the new aircraft carrier ‘Vikrant' under construction and the indigenously constructed submarine ‘Kalvari.'

The marching contingent of Navy (144 young sailors) will be led by Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina, while the IAF contingent (144 men) will be led by Flt Lt Ashish Mann.

This year's R-Day Parade will be commanded by Lt. General Rajan Ravindran, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Delhi Area will be the parade Second-in-Command.

The Paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Indian Coast Guard, an all women contingent of Central Reserve Police Force, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

Three IAF Mi-35 helicopters will be flying in ‘Vic' formation, followed by the ‘Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Trailing them will be the ‘Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s.

Five Jaguars too will fly in their now-famous Arrowhead formation, while five MiG-29s will fly in Fulcrum style.

Finally, the three Su-30 MKIs would fly over the Rajpath in ‘Trishul' formation and later would split upwards once they reach once they reach the saluting dais. The sky party would end with a Su-30 MKI carrying out a ‘Vertical Charlie' manoeuvre over the saluting dais.

OneIndia News