R-Day to feature more women participants, indigenous tech

New Delhi, January 23

The Republic Day Parade this year will showcase indigenous military technologies and a greater number of women will be participating.

IAF to fly in ‘Tangail’ formation

• The IAF will pay tribute by flying in the ‘Tangail’ formation at the Republic Day flypast that will include heritage aircraft Dakota, flanked by two Dornier Do-228 aircraft.
• The ‘Tangail’ formation re-enacts the airdrop of Army special forces on December 11, 1971, during the India-Pakistan war, making it the first such drop behind enemy lines.
• The Uttar Pradesh tableau at the Parade will have a statue of Ram Lalla.

Commencing at 10.30 am on January 26 from Vijay Chowk, the Parade will be led by Delhi Area Commander Lt General Bhavnish Kumar, the Secon in Command of the Parade Major General Sumit Mehta said today.

Among the indigenous technologies will be swathi weapon locating radar, capable of locating guns, mortars, and rockets fired by enemy troops. The made-in-India weapon systems and platforms from the Indian Army at the parade include the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and Nag anti-tank missiles.

The LCH is already inducted into the Army and the IAF and is equipped with potent ground attack and aerial combat capabilities.

The Nag missile is designed to engage enemy tanks in day and night conditions, boasting “Fire & Forget” and homing guidance.

The indigenously produced armoured vehicles and specialist vehicles will also be part of the Parade. This includes the quick reaction vehicle, the light vehicle, and the all-terrain vehicle.

The parade will feature weapon systems such as the T-90 tank, BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle, Drone jammers, medium range surface-air-missile.

Also this year the parade will have greater representation. The Army will for the first time have women officers from the Regiment of Artillery. Women were commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery as officers in two batches in April and September last year.

The Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police will be part of the tri-services contingent consisting entirely of women. The contingent will be led by a captain of the Indian Army. The supernumerary officers will be from the Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Army’s Bombay Engineer Group will be led by a woman officer. Indian Army troops will also be part of the tri-services Armed Forces Medical Services contingent.

Army marching columns will include troops from the Madras Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Kumaon Regiment and Naga Regiment.