The Indian Air Force on Wednesday celebrated its 71st anniversary by putting on display for the first time its sophisticated Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles and mid-air refueling abilities.
The IAF has deployed the UAVs in its forward bases along the border with Pakistan and China.
Two UAVs, Heron and Searcher-2, flew over the Palam Technical area in New Delhi, where the celebrations took place.
All three arms of the Indian armed forces have inducted Israeli UAVs, which relay real-time pictures of the battlefield to the ground controls.
While the army has deployed most of them along the Jammu and Kashmir border, the navy has established its first UAV base in Kochi and plans to set up a second at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The IAF also displayed its mid-air refueling technology acquired from Russia. A mid-air refuel tanker, IL-78, flew past while refueling two Sukhoi-30 multi-role fighters.
The mid-air synchrony and refueling is a quantum jump for the Indian Air Force and provides it with much depth, IAF
chief Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy had said recently.
The mid-air refueling facility will help in the IAF playing a greater role in maritime reconnaissance.
The parade also witnessed a massive MI-26 helicopter, which can carry over 100 soldiers, for the first time in such a show. Three MI-35 helicopters also few in formation.
The IAF's upgraded MIG-21 Bisons were also on display. They flew past in formation, so did Jaguars, Su-30s and some other planes of the IAF.
The air show put up by the dare-devil pilots of the Surya Kiran team took everyone's breath away. They performed several stunning flight formations and exercises as the crowds erupted in repeated applause.
The Surya Kiran team drew the national tri-colour in the air, and signed off with a cupid's arrow.
