Several preparations are underway as India gears up to celebrate the 69th Republic Day on January 26. While the parade, various tableau, and children and armymen being honoured with gallantry awards have always been major attractions at the event, 2018 will also witness attack helicopter Rudra at the parade for the first time.
Rudra is an attack helicopter manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Army. It is the first armed helicopter to be produced indigenously in India.
Other aircraft that will be a part of the flypast are C-130 J, Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, two Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar, and the MiG 29 Upgrade aircraft. This year, the theme of the IAF tableau is "Indian Air Force encouraging indigenisation," and the tri-service's theme is "veterans are asset to the nation."
Meanwhile, this Republic Day may also see a tableau by the All India Radio with a Mann Ki Baat theme. In tune, AIR has reportedly already received an approval for the same and has developed a tableau.