Agni V AND INS Vikramaditya to occupy pride of place during 64th Republic Day parade

New Delhi, Jan.25 (ANI): The highlight of the 64th Republic Day, which will take place on Saturday, will be the above 5,000 kms range Agni-V missile.

The advanced long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of being launched from anywhere in any direction and within a few minutes from a self-contained road mobile launcher is being paraded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The state-of-the-art missile, which was successfully flight tested in the month of April last year, has provided the true deterrence capability and brought India at par with the elite group of advanced countries possessing this capability. A mini version of INS Vikramaditya which will join the Naval fleet by the end of this year is being showcased to highlight Indian Navy's blue water operating capability.

The DRDO will also put on display the Armoured Amphibious Dozer (AAD), an indigenously developed versatile Combat Engineer support equipment with excellent earth moving and amphibious capabilities in varied terrain. Besides Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW and C) System and Naval Sonar will also be on display on Rajpath by DRDO.

The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army includes the Main Battle Tank 'Arjun', APC Ambulance tracked, the only Super Sonic Cruise Missile Brahmos Weapon System, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Recce Vehicle, Sarvatra Bridge, Mobile Integrated Network Terminal (MINT) and Radio Trunking System Mk-II (RTS Mk-II). The Army's Mechanized Columns will conclude with a flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv of the Army Aviation Corps.

The Indian Air Force will showcase its latest acquisitions on its tableaux. It comprise the new basic trainer aircraft, the Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II and the new VIP helicopter, the Augusta Westland AW-101. It will also showcase the indigenous 'eyes in the sky' atop the Embraer 145, Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and the strategic heavy lift aircraft, C-17 Globemaster-III, which will enter service by the middle of this year.

The Indian Navy's tableaux depicts a scaled down model of INS Vikramaditya, a large aircraft carrier which will join the naval fleet by the end of this year. The ship is capable of sustaining at sea for more than 45 days at a stretch. She is also equipped to carry over 30 combat aircraft at any time giving her the freedom to operate and strike anywhere at sea. The Navy's tableau also focusing on INS Chakra, a nuclear propelled submarine.

The parade ceremony will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying wreath. An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle topped by a helmet.

As per tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag, the National Anthem will be played. The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute. This year's Chief Guest in the parade will be His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the King of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The parade will be commanded by Lt. General Subroto Mitra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the parade Second-in-Command.

Param Vir Chakra winners Sub Maj (Hon. Capt) Bana Singh, 8 JAK LI, Naib Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers and Havaldar Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK RIF and Ashok Chakra Winners Maj Gen CA Pithawalla, GoC, Andhra Sub Area, Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (retd), Major D. Sree Ram Kumar, 90 Field Regiment, Hon'y Naib Subedar Chhering Mutup (retd), Jammu, Shri Hukum Singh and Shri Govind Singh, both from district Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh and Shri Bhure Lal of district Guna, also from Madhya Pradesh will follow the Deputy Parade Commander on Jeeps.

The marching contingents of Army will include the horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, Mechanized Infantry Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, Dogra Regiment, Garhwal Rifles, Ladakh Scouts, 8 Gorkha Training Centre, Army Ordnance Corps and Territorial Army (Punjab).

The marching contingents of Navy comprising 144 men will be led by Lt. Commander Ajay Kumar Verma and the Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Flight Lieutenant Heena Pore. The marching contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme. The Camel-mounted band of the BSF and the Ex-Servicemen marching contingent will be another major attraction.

Tableaux from 19 states and Central Ministries and Departments will present the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country. They will also showcase country's progress in different fields. Twenty one of the 22 children selected for the National Bravery Award-2012 will also participate in the parade. One child has got the award posthumously. In the children's pageant section, 1,000 boys and girls drawn from Delhi's two schools, one school from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and one from Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata will present dance and other programmes.

Tornados, the motorcycle display by the Army Service Corps will be a major attraction of the parade. The tornados team consists of 135 riders on motorcycles performing Standing Salute, Ladder Balance, Fish Riding, Back Riding, Long Arm Verma Lotus, ASC Special, Balance Seat and Fish, Sudershan Chakra, Balance Ride Standing, Ladder Lotus, Human Pyramid under the leadership of Havaldar R Balasubramaniam. They will perform breathtaking stunts in a synchronised and synergetic display of mind, body and machine coordination.

The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular flypast by the IAF. The flypast commence with 'Chakra' formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the Hercules formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in 'Vic' formation. Trailing them will be a Big Boy formation comprising one IL-78, flanked by two AN-32 and two Dorniers. Next in line will be the fighters, - while five Jaguars will fly in Arrowhead formation, another five Mig-29 air Superiority Fighter called the "Tridents" will fly in Fulcrum style. Then the breathtaking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI would fly over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais the Su-30 MKI aircraft will split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky. The flypast will conclude with another Sukhoi Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais.

The ceremony will culminate with the National Anthem and release of balloons.(ANI)

Matches

MORE TOP STORIES TODAY

England, South Africa look to ride their luck

England, South Africa look to ride their luck

The teams square-off in the Champions Trophy semi-final at the Oval today. More »

Resurgent India impress Jayawardene

Resurgent India impress Jayawardene

Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene is under no illusions about the scale of the task confronting his side when they face India in a Champions Trophy semi-… More »

Dalmiya or Srini, song remains the same on DRS

Dalmiya or Srini, song remains the same on DRS

After much speculation, the cricket board will decide on Thursday who will represent BCCI at International Cricket Council's annual conference from June… More »

The secret behind Dhoni's massive sixes

The secret behind Dhoni's massive sixes

Watching MS Dhoni hit sixes is a visual delight that touches a chord at a primeval level. It's instinctive, it's visceral. More »

Whatmore eyes World Cup after Pakistan flop

Whatmore eyes World Cup after Pakistan flop

The former Australian batsman turned coach rejected the suggestion his players lacked in effort. More »

Rare world title beckons England

Rare world title beckons England

Their only major title in cricket's shorter formats is the 2010 World Twenty20 they won in the Caribbean. More »

Cummins set for return to action

Cummins set for return to action

Rising Australia fast bowling hope Pat Cummins is to make an unusual return to action from injury by playing for the Northern Ireland Cricket Academy on… More »

Lankans ready for another tough match

Lankans ready for another tough match

Sri Lanka barged into the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a 20-run victory over holders Australia. More »

Hughes and Wade join Aus A side

Hughes and Wade join Aus A side

Australia said on Tuesday that captain Michael Clarke will stay in London as he recovers from a back problem. More »

I am 'happy to be alive': Harbhajan

I am 'happy to be alive': Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh, who was amongst the many pilgrims and tourists stranded in the upper reaches of Uttarakhand due to the landslides and heavy rains, on… More »

Don't write off Aussies, says Inverarity

Don't write off Aussies, says Inverarity

Australia's chairman of selectors has told England now is not the time to dismiss his side's chances of regaining the Ashes, despite the controversy currently… More »

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Swinging in the rain

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Swinging in the rain

Cardiff, June 17 -- Swing bowling is a complex science and not an absolute one. The basics are simple enough.Swing occurs due to the uneven distribution… More »

[RUN MACHINES] Mahela passes Dravid on way to 11,000th run

The Sri Lankan became the eighth man to pass 11,000 runs in one-day internationals. More »

Inverarity: Fawad Ahmed is a lovely lad

Inverarity: Fawad Ahmed is a lovely lad

LONDON, June 17, 2013 (AFP) - John Inverarity, Australia's chairman of selectors, indicated Monday that Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed could yet… More »

Hesson laments NZ's failure to grab chances

Hesson laments NZ's failure to grab chances

The New Zealand coach rued the Black Caps' exit from the Champions Trophy. More »

Chandila sent to 3-day police custody

Chandila sent to 3-day police custody

Police sought fresh custody of Chandila saying he was required to corroborate evidence collected from other accused after invoking the stringent MCOCA… More »

Abdullah objects to IMG faux pas

Abdullah objects to IMG faux pas

Senior Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday strongly objected to a prominent sports management company unilaterally altering the map of Jammu and Kashmir… More »

The prodigal son

The prodigal son

If Sreesanth did what he is accused of, it is doubtful he realised he was doing something wrong. More »

Who'll watch the administrators?

Who'll watch the administrators?

It's rich to accuse players of being selfish when administrators seem concerned solely with the bottom line. More »

BCCI using fixing video to warn juniors

BCCI using fixing video to warn juniors

With spot-fixing under the scanner in India, the cricket Board is showing video clips of the scandal involving Aamer to educate its under-19 and under-25… More »

India retain squad for WI tri-series

India retain squad for WI tri-series

India's cricket selectors on Monday retained the Champions Trophy squad for a triangular one-day series in the West Indies starting later this month. More »

BCCI needs to accept DRS immediately

BCCI needs to accept DRS immediately

Cricket needs to eradicate human errors and technology is the only option. More »

Boycott still upset about run-out: Amiss

Boycott still upset about run-out: Amiss

Interview with the former England opening batsman, pioneer of batting helmets and scorer of 102 First Class hundreds. More »