Air Force Day Parade on the occasion of Platinum Jubilee of IAF was conducted at Air Force Station, Hindon.

CAS Air Chief Marshal FH Major addressed the parade. He said ” The process for acquisition of the MMRCA has begun. The Su-30 project is on track. The first of the Hawk AJTs arrive in a month and the AWACS will be with us next year. Additional Dorniers and VIP Boeings will join the fleet. Contracts will soon be signed for six Hercules C-130Js, 80 Mi-17 1Vs and 54 ALHs. Joint design and development for a 5th Generation Fighter and a Medium Transport Aircraft are being negotiated. The first LCA Sqn should be operational by 2010.

Modernisation plans include upgrades, to enhance the lethality and life of existing fleets. The MiG-27 and Jaguar upgrades are almost complete. The MiG 29 & Mirage 2000 upgrade are under negotiation. IL-76, AN-32 and the helicopter fleet upgrades will follow.

Air defence will be significantly strengthened with modern weapon-systems and sensors, including the AWACS & Aerostats. Integration of civil radars will commence next year, for gap-free surveillance of the entire Indian airspace. Force-multipliers, air dominance fighters and a converged, secure ‘Combat Communications Network’ will fundamentally alter the IAF’s Air Defence doctrine. Networks and Space, that significantly enhance air power and extend its effective reach, are the essential ‘next steps’. ”

An impressive parade and fly past by 75 aircraft marked the occasion.