EU’s Antonio Costa, Leyen grace celebrations as chief friends
New Delhi: India ushered in its 77th Republic Day on Monday with a grand show of its cultural variety, financial development, and navy prowess that included missiles, warplanes, newly-raised models and deadly weapon techniques used throughout Operation Sindoor.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, graced the celebrations as chief friends, marking a major diplomatic second alongside the navy show.
Although the overarching theme of the occasion was 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, the Indian navy’s Operation Sindoor too discovered prominence at the parade on the Kartavya Path, the centrepiece boulevard of the nationwide capital.
The parade commenced with the President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute shortly after she, Costa and von der Leyen, flanked by the Indian President’s bodyguards, arrived at the Kartavya Path in a conventional buggy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, a number of different Union ministers, the nation’s high navy brass, international diplomats, and senior officers had been among the many spectators.
The main weapon techniques displayed included BrahMos and Akash weapon techniques, rocket launcher ‘Suryastra’, Â Main Battle Tank Arjun and an array of indigenously-built navy platforms and {hardware}.
Around 100 artistes heralded the parade, on the theme ‘Vividata Mein Ekta (Unity in Diversity) that featured a grand presentation of musical instruments, demonstrating the nation’s unity and wealthy cultural variety.
The parade then started with President Murmu taking the salute. The parade was led by Parade Commander Lt General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, a second-generation officer.
A tri-services tableau showcasing replicas of main weapon techniques deployed by the Indian navy throughout Operation Sindoor in early May was a significant attraction.
A glass-cased built-in operational centre, depicting the conduct of Operation Sindoor with using weapons techniques comparable to BrahMos and S-400 missiles rolled down Kartavya Path.
For the primary time, the parade showcased a phased ‘Battle Array Format’ of the Indian Army, together with its aerial element. The recce aspect consisted of the 61 Cavalry in lively fight uniform.
It was adopted by a excessive mobility reconnaissance car. Providing aerial assist was the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and its armed model, Rudra, in Prahar formation, demonstrating battlefield shaping.
The fight components then adopted with T-90 Bhisma and Main Battle Tank Arjun rolling previous the saluting dais with aerial assist from Apache AH-64E and Prachand gentle fight helicopters.
Other mechanised columns included BMP-II Infantry Combat Vehicle, together with Nag missile system (Tracked) Mk-2.
A navy contingent from the EU, carrying the navy employees flag and flags of Operations Atalanta and Aspides, the naval operations of the grouping, additionally featured at the parade. Â It was the EU’s first participation in such an occasion exterior of Europe.
Among the key weapon techniques showcased at the parade had been Suryastra Universal Rocket Launcher System (URLS), Brahmos Supersonic cruise missiles and Akash missile techniques.
The Indian Navy contingent comprised 144 younger personnel, led by Lt Karan Nagyal as contingent commander, and Lt Pawan Kumar Gandi, Lt Priti Kumari and Lt Varun Dreveriya as platoon commanders.
It was adopted by the Naval tableau that offered a vivid depiction of the theme  ‘Strong Navy for a Strong Nation’. It depicted a stitched ship from the fifth century CE, now christened INSV Kaundinya, Gurab-class ships of the Maratha Navy, and frontline indigenous platforms, together with the plane service INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri.
The tableau featured an outline of the circumnavigation route adopted by INSV Tarini as a part of the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II expedition.
In addition to naval personnel, younger cadets from the Sea Cadets Corps, a non-governmental organisation that imparts fundamental nautical expertise to youth in Mumbai, marched alongside the tableau.
The Indian Air Force contingent comprised 4 officers and 144 airmen. The contingent commander was Squadron Leader Jagdesh Kumar with Squadron Leader Nikita Choudhery, Flt Lt Prakhar Chandrakar and Flt Lt Dinesh as supernumerary officers.
Syncing with the marching contingent was an exciting fly-past by two Rafale jets, two MiG-29s, two Su-30s and one Jaguar plane in ‘Spearhead’ formation, symbolising the “Sindoor Formation”.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased its hypersonic glide missile LR-AShM. It is able to participating static and transferring targets and is designed to hold varied payloads.
The missile has a first-of-its-kind indigenous avionics system and high-accuracy sensor packages.
A complete of 30 tableaux – 17 of states and Union territories and 13 of assorted ministries and departments rolled down the Kartavya Path. The tableaux showcased a singular mixture of 150 years of the nationwide track Vande Mataram and the nation’s fast progress.
A joint ‘DareDevils’ workforce of bike riders drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal enthralled the viewers with their manoeuvres.
