Suryakiran Aerobatic Team Marks 30 Years of Precision, Passion and IAF Excellence

The Indian Air Force’s Suryakiran Aerobatic Team has completed 30 years of thrilling displays, disciplined formation flying and national inspiration. The team marked its 30th anniversary at Air Force Station Bidar on May 26, 2026, celebrating three decades of precision aerobatics, exceptional airmanship and service to the country.

The anniversary event carried both celebration and emotion. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Air Marshal S Shrinivas attended the programme. In a special moment, both senior officers flew with the team during the commemorative aerial display, making the occasion a powerful tribute to the legacy and continuing excellence of Suryakiran.

The highlight of the display was the “Hollow Diamond” formation, flown in remembrance of team members who lost their lives during Suryakiran’s journey. The formation carried deep symbolic value, reflecting courage, sacrifice, brotherhood and the demanding nature of military aerobatics. In such teams, every manoeuvre depends on trust, timing and absolute control, and the tribute honoured the air warriors who helped shape the team’s proud history.

Suryakiran was formed in 1996 at Bidar, and the station has remained closely linked with the team’s identity. Over the past three decades, the team has performed more than 800 air displays in India and abroad, becoming one of the most recognisable symbols of the Indian Air Force. Its red-and-white aircraft, tight formations and sweeping aerial patterns have inspired millions of citizens, young aviation enthusiasts and future air warriors.

The team currently flies the Hawk Mk-132 aircraft, a platform that allows high-speed manoeuvres, close formation flying and visually striking aerobatic routines. Every display demands extraordinary coordination between pilots, ground crew, engineers, planners and safety teams. A few seconds of aerial precision in the sky come from months of training, repeated drills, technical preparation and a culture of discipline.

Suryakiran’s importance goes beyond air shows. The team represents the professional confidence of the Indian Air Force and communicates military skill in a language that ordinary citizens can immediately understand. A fighter formation in the sky becomes a public symbol of national capability, teamwork and technological confidence. For young Indians watching these displays, Suryakiran often becomes their first emotional connection with aviation and the armed forces.

The motto of the team, “Sadaiva Sarvottam” — Always the Best, captures the spirit behind its journey. The 30th anniversary at Bidar was a reminder that aerobatics is a blend of art and warfare discipline. It requires courage, mathematics, machine mastery, physical endurance and mental calm. Through three decades of displays, Suryakiran has turned these qualities into a flying emblem of India’s air power.

As the team enters its fourth decade, its role remains deeply relevant. India is expanding its aerospace ecosystem, strengthening indigenous aviation capability and inspiring a new generation toward defence, engineering and flight. In that larger national story, Suryakiran stands as a bright red-and-white signature in the sky: graceful, disciplined, fearless and proudly Indian.

Reference: PIB