Air Force Day 2025: IAF to spotlight Operation Sindoor, S-400’s record 300-km strike, and MiG-21 farewell

At its 93rd Air Force Day, the IAF will highlight combat successes from Operation Sindoor, humanitarian missions, and new technological milestones.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its 93rd Air Force Day on October 8, with a parade and aerial display at the Hindon Air Base near Delhi. This year’s event will centre on the force’s role in Operation Sindoor, alongside displays of its latest aircraft, missile systems, and humanitarian operations, according to ANI.

The Full Dress Rehearsal (FDR) was held at Hindon on Monday but faced rain interruptions, delaying the static aircraft display.

Operation Sindoor achievements to take centre stage

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) AP Singh said Operation Sindoor will be a major theme during this year’s celebration. The IAF, he noted, destroyed several key Pakistani military assets during the operation earlier this year, including 12–13 combat aircraft, airfields, and radar installations.

“We struck a large number of their airfields and installations. Because of these strikes, radars at four places, command and control centres at two, and runways at two bases were damaged,” ACM Singh told ANI.

He added that the IAF’s S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile system, known as ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, conducted a 300-km strike that destroyed one of Pakistan’s airborne early warning aircraft.

“It will go down as the longest kill we achieved, of more than 300 kilometres,” he said.

ACM Singh dismissed Pakistan’s counterclaims of shooting down Indian aircraft as 'Manohar Kahaniyan,' calling them unsubstantiated and without evidence.

Parade and aircraft line-up at Hindon

The static and flying displays at Hindon will feature the Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Hercules, Apache and Advanced Light Helicopter platforms, as well as the indigenous Netra AEW&C, Akash missile system, and Rohini radar, ANI reported.

The event will also include a tribute to the recently retired MiG-21 Bison, which served the IAF for over six decades. The aircraft was also deployed during Operation Sindoor, according to IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Jaideep Singh.

Growing international cooperation

The IAF will also highlight its participation in several international exercises this year, including Desert Knight (France), Red Flag Alaska (US), Udara Dara Shakti (Malaysia), and Bright Star (Egypt). These exercises, the force said, underscore India’s increasing interoperability and recognition among global air powers.

Humanitarian and space milestones

The IAF will highlight its expanding humanitarian and disaster relief role, from flood rescue operations in Uttarkashi and Punjab to earthquake assistance in Myanmar. Its role as a 'first responder' in crisis zones was a recurring theme during rehearsals.

Another major achievement being noted this year is Group Captain Shubhan Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) — the first by an Indian Air Force pilot.

Parade at Hindon, flypast in Guwahati

While the main parade will be held at Hindon, the flypast, a separate event this year, is expected to take place in Guwahati in mid-November, ANI reported. Previous Air Force Day parades were hosted in Prayagraj (2023) and Chennai (2024).

A transition year for the IAF

This year’s Air Force Day reflects both continuity and transition, honouring legacy aircraft like the MiG-21 while showcasing systems like the S-400 and indigenous platforms that define India’s next phase of air power.

“This was one war started with a clear objective and terminated in quick time without prolonging it,” ACM Singh said, referring to Operation Sindoor.

The 93rd anniversary celebrations highlight how the IAF is evolving, balancing operational readiness, technological self-reliance, and its growing humanitarian footprint.