IAF Shows Strength Near Chicken’s Neck Corridor
Guwahati/New Delhi: The Indian Air Force’s frontline fighter jets – Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000 and Tejas – roared through the skies over the majestic Brahmaputra river at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati on Sunday, as part of a flight to celebrate its 93rd anniversary. Separately, Indian Navy’s warship INS Sahyadri is at US naval base Guam to participate in the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025, which will begin on Monday.
Sarang helicopter and Hawk aircraft crews mesmerized people as they lined up along the banks of the Brahmaputra to perform the aerobatic air show. This was the first time the Air Force Day flight was held in Guwahati. Choosing Assam for the flight is also seen as a strategic message in the face of growing closeness between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Around 25 formations comprising around 58 aircraft, including fighter jets as well as transport planes and helicopters, were on fly-by at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati.
Warplanes flew from their bases to demonstrate over the Brahmaputra river. Rafale and Su-30 MKI, which led the attacks against 2 terrorists and 11 Pakistan Air Force bases during Operation Sindoor, flew in Barak formation together with Mirage 2000.
The French twin-engine multirole Rafale aircraft also flew only in Haati formation, ending it with a vertical Charlie manoeuvre. Native LCA Tejas flew in Dikhow formation. MiG-29, Harvard and AEW&C were also part of the flyover.
Helicopters belonging to the Air Force, including Apache, Mi-17 and ALH Mk1 attack helicopters, also fascinated the audience. C-295, C-130 and An-32 transport aircraft made their presence known during the air show.
This year, while the Air Force Day parade was held at the Indian Air Base on October 8, the traditional fly-by of the Air Force’s frontline fighter jets and the aerial display of the Air Force Day celebrations were also held in Guwahati on Sunday.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh were among the dignitaries present during the flight.
“I am very happy that the Air Force has chosen Guwahati to observe the annual celebration. Guwahati has never seen such a magnificent presentation before. I am grateful. This will motivate our youth to join the Air Force,” the Assam chief minister said.
Later, in a post published on
“The Northeast’s first air show was truly a breathtaking display of power, skill and spirit. Your overwhelming support to the Air Warriors of Bharat, so close to Chicken Neck and the four international borders, will give sleepless nights to enemies at home and abroad.”
Meanwhile, amid questions over the future of the Quad following the election of US President Donald Trump, the alliance countries’ Malabar naval exercise will begin in Guam in the North Pacific on Monday.
The four-nation Quadrilateral naval exercise Malabar, involving India, US, Australia and Japan, will be held from 10 November to 18 November. The port phase of the exercise will take place between 10 November and 12 November, and the sea phase will take place between 13 November and 17 November.
Indian Navy’s warship INS Sahyadri is in Guam to participate in the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025. The indigenously designed and built INS Sahyadri is a guided missile stealth frigate.
The port phase of Exercise Malabar-2025 will include operational planning and discussions, harmonization of communication protocols, familiarization visits between participating countries and sports fixtures.
Following the port phase, all participating units will move to the sea phase, where ships and aircraft will participate in naval exercises focusing on joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery series and flight operations.
The Malabar series of naval exercises began in 1992 as a bilateral Indo-US naval exercise and has grown over the years to include four leading navies in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
