India Air Force's Sarang Aerobatic Team performs in their HAL Dhruv helicopters during an aerial display at the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore, February 20, 2024.
Reuters
New Delhi: After almost 15 years, the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters will not take part in the flypast at this year’s Republic Day parade, an Indian Air Force official said here on Thursday, after days of speculation.
The entire fleet of nearly 330 ALH used by the three services and coast guards remain grounded following the January 5 crash of an Indian Coast Guard chopper at Porbandar killing all the three persons on board.
Sources said crash investigations were still going on and no decisions have been taken on how long the fleet will remain grounded.
“The ALH Dhruv will not be part of the Republic Day flypast over Kartavya Path on January 26. The choppers are to remain grounded till a high-level probe panel finds the root cause of the crash that killed two Coast Guard pilots and an aircrew diver,” the IAF official said.
The helicopters have been part of the Republic Day flypast for nearly one-and-half decades.
The fatal January 5 crash was the second such mishap within four months. On Sept 2, another Indian Coast Guard ALH crashed killing three on-board, while carrying out a medical evacuation mission at night.
The home-grown Tejas Light Combat Aircraft will also not fly over the central boulevard with the IAF not flying the single engine aircraft for the show in the last few years.
The official said the Republic Day flypast would feature 40 aircraft including 22 fighter jets, 11 transport planes and seven helicopters. A Rafale fighter jet will carry out the grand finale – a manouevre named Vertical Charlie in which the aircraft first flies low and then goes up while carrying out rolls.