Hindon (Ghaziabad), Oct 8: The C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and an all-woman sky-diving team today were the main attractions at the annual Air Force Day parade here.
Missing in action was the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, which has been grounded for the time being to provide training to IAF's rookie pilots in absence of basic trainer aircraft.
Making its debut, the six-member woman sky-diving team jumped from an An-32 aircraft at a height of 8000 ft and touched down the tarmac to a thundering applause from the audience.
The team, led by Wing Commander Asha Jyothirmai, left the spectators spellbound as it went through a series of mid-air formations before touching down. The team members have undergone a two-year grueling training in India and the US. The C-130J made its debut in two formations over its home base in the fly past with a set of two Avros, Dorniers and An-32s each.
The IAF has placed orders for six C-130Js, five of which have already been based here.
A total of 35 aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and the MiG 21 Bisons along with Mi-17 choppers took part in the aerial show.
As part of a major security upgrade, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will put in place a comprehensive radar system in mountains and other places to plug gaps and deploy fighter aircraft at Delhi and other metro cities for quick response to any possible threat.
“I think by 2014 we would have a very comprehensive and complete radar coverage network in the country. The most difficult part are the mountainous areas and that may take about a year longer,” Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said here.
He told reporters on sidelines of Air Force Day parade here, “We have certain plans, which looks after the air-defence of all the important metros, starting from Delhi. This network comprises radars, early warning systems, missiles as well as the air-borne fighters.”
On securing the air-space of National Capital Region (NCR), he said, “Since Hindon is the closest base, it could actually be the right place to base the air-defence fighters.” He said the type of the aircraft to be deployed here has yet not been decided.
“Whether it would be Sukhois or M-MRCA class of aircraft, that decision is not taken but certainly these would be highly capable air-defence fighters,” he said. On the forthcoming army exercise codenamed Op Sudarshan Shakti, he said, “Participants would be the strike corps i.e. 21 Corps from the Indian Army and the South Western Air Command (SWAC) from the IAF.” PTI
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