Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI Jets Thunder Over Kartavya Path as IAF Showcases Air Superiority at 77th Republic Day
NEW DELHI, January 26, 2026 – In a breathtaking display of precision and power, the Indian Air Force (IAF) headlined the 77th Republic Day flypast with frontline Rafale and Su-30MKI fighter jets.
Operating from the Air Force Station Jodhpur under the South Western Air Command, the aircraft traversed the distance from the Rajasthan desert to the skies over Kartavya Path to perform iconic aerial maneuvers.
The flypast featured the Sindoor, Varuna, and Vijay formations, each meticulously designed to symbolize India’s courage, strategic resolve, and undisputed air dominance.
The Sindoor formation—a powerful seven-aircraft spearhead comprising two Rafales, two Su-30MKIs, two MiG-29s, and a Jaguar—served as a tribute to the IAF’s recent decisive actions.
This was followed by the Varuna formation, where a Navy P-8i maritime patrol aircraft was flanked by two Su-30MKI jets in a classic ‘Vic’ formation, highlighting seamless inter-service synergy.
The aerial spectacle reached its grand finale with the Vijay formation, featuring a lone Rafale executing a high-speed “Vertical Charlie” maneuver.
Streaking past the presidential dais at 900 kmph before pulling into a vertical climb with multiple rolls, the jet embodied the IAF’s motto, “Touch the Sky with Glory,” leaving the thousands in attendance in awe of the nation’s soaring military might.