R-Day 2022: Army troops to don uniforms from different eras; drone, laser show scheduled after Beating Retreat ceremony

New Delhi, Jan 24: In what can be said the first-ever time, the Indian Army soldiers will be seen marching in different uniforms worn by the Army from 1950 to present day at the Republic Day parade this year. These include the first uniform worn in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, the present-day olive greens and the new combat uniform unveiled at the Army Day parade this year.

 

According to Maj Gen Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff, Delhi area said, there will be eight contingents of the Indian Armed Forces in the Republic Day Parade, which will include six contingents of Army, one each from Air Force and the Navy. The six marching contingents of the army wearing these different uniforms along with different weapons of that era.

 

 

Apart from that, the troops of the Rajput regiment will be seen wearing the uniform from 1950 and march with 303 rifles. This will be followed by Assam regiment donning the uniform from 1960 along with 303 rifles. Troops from Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) will be in the uniform from 1970 along with the 7.62 mm rifle. Troops from Sikh Light Infantry (SIKHLI) and Army Ordnance will don the present day olive green along with the INSAS rifles.

 

The new combat uniform unveiled at the Army Day parade 2022 will be worn by the Parachute regiment troops who be carry the Tavor rifle. There will be a total of 16 marching contingents. Apart from those eight contingents, four Central Armed Police Forces, one from Delhi Police two from National Cadet Corps and one NSS will be present.

 

 

The guns systems to be rolled out on Rajpath will include vintage platforms like PT 76 and Centurion used in 1965 and 1971, Arjun tank wars to the modern ones like the Dhanush gun system. Vintage platforms like HT 16 for electronic warfare to the modern ones like Tarang Shakti and the potent Akash Missile system, the first indigenously designed air defence system that has the capability of carrying out surveillance of airspace up to 150 km and can engage hostile aerial platforms to a range of 25 km will also be part of the parade.

 

Besides, the flypast during Republic Day parade 2022 will bring back memories of the 1971 war and at the same time showcase India’s modern day aviation capabilities across the three forces. While formations like Tangail and Meghna are named after important operations during the 1971 war, the modern warfare capabilities will be on display with seven Rafale fighter jets being part of three separate formations, Indian Navy’s P8I reconnaissance aircraft that were deployed in Ladakh and earlier in Doklam to pick up Chinese activities will also be part of the flypast. The P8I will fly with the Navy’s two MiG 29 K aircraft in a formation called Varuna.

 

 

Keeping up with the theme of Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav, celebrating 75 years of India’s independence, 75 aircraft from Air Force, Navy and Army will be a part of the spectacular display over Rajpath. These include fighter jets, combat helicopters and transport aircraft representing all three forces.

 

A first of its kind 1,000 drone display on the theme of India’s 75 years of independence will be part of Republic Day celebration during the Beating the Retreat ceremony on January 29. These are indigenously developed drones by Botlanb Dynamics, a startup of IIT Delhi. Counties like the US, Russia and China have done similar displays using drones at such a high scale. Another addition to the ceremony would be a laser projection on the parapet of North and South Blocks showcasing 75 years of independence.