Over 800 air shows in 30 years: IAF’s Suryakiran team celebrates 30 years of its precision flying

NEW DELHI: Over 800 aerial shows successful 30 years. As Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) commemorated its 30th day connected Tuesday astatine Karnataka’s aerial unit station, Bidar, the Indian Air Force congratulated the country's “daredevils of the skies” for their “precision, passionateness and pride”.Celebrating the 3 decades of the SKAT, IAF successful a station connected X connected Tuesday said, “From its debut successful 1996 to implicit 800 breathtaking displays crossed India and abroad, SKAT continues to animate with unmatched professionalism, precision flying and teamwork. Living by their motto ‘Sadaiva Sarvottam’ meaning ‘Always the Best’, the squad symbolises the tone and excellence of the IAF.”

Known officially arsenic the “Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force”, SKAT implicit the years has conducted hundreds of aerial displays crossed India and abroad, representing the IAF astatine prestigious aerial shows, nationalist celebrations and planetary aviation events.

The squad has performed successful countries including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, China and the UAE, earning admiration for its precision flying and vibrant formations.The squad performs spectacular low-level aerobatics, loops, and tube rolls, often coating the nationalist tricolour crossed the sky.

The squadron is presently commanded by Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, an experienced Su-30 aviator with immense operational flying acquisition and a qualified flying instructor.

The squad was raised with the purpose of showcasing the professionalism, precision and operational excellence of the IAF done synchronised aerobatic displays.SKAT initially flew the iconic Kiran Mk II aircraft, from which the squad derived its sanction ‘Surya Kiran’, meaning ‘Rays of the Sun’. Over astir 2 decades, the squad performed galore breathtaking displays crossed the state and became 1 of the astir recognised symbols of the IAF.

In May 2006, the squad was formally designated arsenic 52 Squadron, ‘Sharks’, carrying guardant the bequest of the erstwhile MiG-21 FL squadron. In 2015, the squad transitioned to the more-advanced Hawk Mk-132 craft licensed produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, importantly enhancing its show capabilities with modern avionics, improved show and smoke-generation systems. The induction of the Hawk craft marked a caller epoch successful the operational and show illustration of the team.Some memorable milestones successful the past of SKAT see information successful large editions of Aero India, displays overseas successful UAE, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Srilanka, Myanmar and China; the spectacular aerial show implicit Chennai that drew an estimated assemblage of astir 1.7 cardinal spectators on the coastline; first-ever aerial show implicit the Himalayas successful 2026.