Article Posted on : - Jan 23, 2011

BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile

NEW DELHI (PTI): Showcasing India's military might, the Army will display the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile, T-90 main battle tanks (MBT) and Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) 'Dhruv' at the Republic Day parade on Wednesday.

"Marching contingents on the Rajpath would include mounted troops from 61st Cavalry, mechanised columns and eight regiments of the Indian army followed by a flypast of Advance Light Helicopter Dhruv from Army Aviation Corps," said parade second-in-command Brigadier Kuldeep Singh.

The parade would be commanded by the GOC of the Delhi Area, Major General Manvendra Singh.

Brigadier Singh further informed that the one-and-a-half hour long parade would begin with national salute followed by presentation of Ashok Chakra posthumously to Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, who died fighting a suicide attacker during an attack on the Indian High Commission at Kabul.

"The parade would begin with the three Paramvir Chakra awardees marching on the Rajpath which would be followed by the mounted cavalry troops, mechanised column and ALH Dhruv," said Colonel AS Mahela while briefing about the parade.

Besides BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile, army contingent would also feature PMS bridging columns used by the troops to make temporary bridges.

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

While Navy is showcasing aircraft carrier INS Viraat, IAF's marching contingent would be followed by the tableaux of Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) and Aerostat Radar.

DRDO while showcasing Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas' trainer version in its tableau, would also present Soldier Support Systems and one of its radars.

From Air Force, a total of 28 aircraft and helicopter would enthral the audience with their flypast and other airborne manoeuvres.

The parade would be followed by the marching units of central para-military forces like Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles (AR), Indian Coast Guards (ICG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Delhi Police.

The march past would culminate with National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS) cadets marching down the Rajpath.

This year, the numbers of tableaux have been increased to 23 from last year's 21, while the number of cultural programmes has remained the same with five different activities.

The motorcycle display team at the end of the parade would consist of men from Signal regiment of the Indian Army.

On Beating the Retreat ceremony, Col Mahela said, "Indian Air Force would be this year's coordinating service for beating the Retreat Ceremony. Total 12 military bands from all the three services would participate in it. The tunes which would be played this time are mostly Indian."