The Indian Air Force will celebrate its 93rd Air Force Day on October 8, highlighting the achievements of OperationSindoor. The Full Dress Rehearsal for the parade at Hindon Air Force Station faced rain disruptions, postponing the static aircraft display for the main event. The static lineup includes platforms involved in forcing Islamabad to retreat and seek a ceasefire after its DGMO dialled the Indian counterpart. The display features fighter jets Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29, India's Netra AEW&C, C-17 Globemaster III, Akash SAM, C-130J, Apache attack helicopters with Longbow radar, and Advanced Light Helicopter, along with an S-band Rohini radar. The retired MiG-21 Bison will be part of the display as a tribute to over six decades of service. The bison contributed in deterring Pakistan Air Force movements during Operation Sindoor. Highlights from Desert Knight, Red Flag Alaska, Udara Shakti in Malaysia, and Bright Star in Egypt were noted to illustrate growing global military cooperation. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic mission as the first Indian pilot to board the International Space Station in 2025 was highlighted, marking IAF’s role in space exploration. IAF emphasized its humanitarian role in floods and disaster relief across Uttarkashi to Punjab and Myanmar earthquakes. The parade will take place at Hindon Air Base, one of India’s largest airbases. Air Force Day parades were held in Chennai in 2024 and Prayagraj in 2023. The flypast is likely to occur in Guwahati in mid-November. During a pre-event press conference, Chief of Air Staff AP Singh detailed Operation Sindoor, stating multiple Pakistani aircraft and installations were destroyed, including F-16s and JF-17s, C-130s, and other targets, with long-range strikes and S-400 assistance acknowledged as significant achievements. The CAS criticized unsubstantiated claims of downing Indian jets and highlighted the May conflict as a decisive operation. (ANI)