Obama to witness India's military might, cultural diversity on R-Day

New Delhi India will tomorrow celebrate its 66th Republic Day showcasing before the chief guest US President Barack Obama and the world its military might and cultural diversity with a splendid display of land and naval weaponry fighter and reconnaissance aircraftWith Womens Empowerment being the theme of this years Republic Day parade the main attraction of the annual extravaganza would be marching contingents of allwomen officers of the three ServicesDefence sources say the thought of having an allwomen contingent came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself as he wanted the Services to focus on Nari ShaktiTableaux from 16 States and nine central ministries and departments will present the varied historical architectural and cultural heritage of the countryThe theme of most of the tableaux this year will have imprints of the Prime Ministers pet projects like Jan Dhan Yojna Maa Ganga Swachh Bharat Abhiyan bullet train and the Make in India driveAnother attraction would be the display of Army version of indigenously developed surfacetoair Akash medium range missile and Weapon Locating Radar both by Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDOFor the first time India will display its recently acquired longrange maritime surveillance and antisubmarine P8I aircraft and the longrange advanced MiG29K fighter planeIndian Armys laserguided missile capable T90 Bheeshma tank infantry combat vehicle BMPII Sarath followed by T72 with Trawl will be the main draw in the mechanised columnsThese will be followed by Pinaka multiple barrel launcher system The Mobile Autonomous Launcher of BRAHMOS missile system three dimensional tactical control radar satellite on the move communication platform and rapidly deployable satellite terminal RADSAT would come nextAn Indian Air Force tableau with the theme 50 years of 1965 War will follow them at the majestic RajpathThe IAF has proudly put on display aircraft which have proved their prowess in the 1965 IndoPak war the Gnat the Vampire followed by the Canberra bomber MI4 helicopter and Packet transport aircraftIn keeping with the Indian Navys theme Ensuring Safe Seas for a Resurgent Nation the Naval Tableau will display a few of its frontline assets in all four dimensions of maritime warfareNavys march to selfreliance and indigenisation will be showcased by the models of indigenously constructed destroyer INS Kolkata launching a BrahMos missile with the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv in the backgroundThe second tableau titled Bharatiya Nau Sena aur Nari Shakti will show the four Indian Navy women officers who braved vagaries of the seas and participated in an ocean voyage from Goa to RiodeJaneiro in Brazil on board Indian Naval Sailing Vessel MhadeiThe Republic Day parade ceremony will commence at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreathAs per tradition after unfurling of the Tricolour the National Anthem will be played with 21gun salute The parade will then commence and President Pranab Mukherjee will take the saluteThe parade would begin with showering of petals by IAF helicopters which will also display the tricolour and flags of Army Navy and Air ForceAlso 20 young brave hearts who won the national bravery awards will drive through the Rajpath in gypsiesA total of 13 Army bands one band each of Air Force and Navy eight band of paramilitary forces including Camelmounted band of BSF and one band each of NCC boys and girls would play martial music for the paradeOne of the most breathtaking event would be the manoeuvres by air force jets and daredevil motorcycle performance Jaanbaaz by BSF personnelIncidentally the paramilitary force is celebrating its golden jubileeThe rider would perform Border Men Salute Side Riding Ladder Balancing Communal Harmony Peacock Riding Acrobat Parallel Bar Lotus Seema Prahari and Flag March formations among others on moving motorcyclesThe grand finale of the parade would be a spectacular flypast by the IAF jets and aircraftThe flypast will commence with Chakra formation comprising three Mi35 helicopters in Vic formation followed by the Hercules formation comprising three C130J super Hercules aircraftTrailing them will be a Poseidon formation comprising one P8I aircraft flanked by two MiG29Ks and the Globe formation comprising one C17 Globemaster flanked by two Su30sNext five Jaguars will fly in Arrowhead formation and the five MiG29 fighters called the Tridents will fly in Fulcrum styleThree Sukhoi Su30 MkI fighter jets will then make the Trishul formation by flying over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais the three aircraft would split upwards making a Trishul in the skyThe flypast will conclude with another Su30 MkI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais