The Indian Air Force is celebrating its 88th anniversary on Thursday, an annual ritual to showcase the country’s air power. Each year on October 8, the Air Force Day is celebrated from the IAF’s Hindon base in Ghaziabad to commemorate its official establishment in 1932, under the British Raj.

The celebrations are conducted in the presence of the IAF chief and other key officials from the three armed forces. 

The air arm of the Indian Armed Forces typically showcases the best of its fleet on the day, and with the induction of five Rafale jets this year, the IAF’s annual parade featured them as well.

The Air Force on Tuesday conducted a full dress rehearsal ahead of the event,  including a fly past by its aircraft at the Hindon base, PTI reported.

According to ANI, 56 aircraft including 19 fighters and 7 transport aircraft along with 19 helicopters would be taking part in the aerial display during this year’s Air Force Day parade.

The Tejas LCA, Jaguar, Mig-29, Mig-21 and Sukhoi-30 aircraft were part of Tuesday’s rehearsal, apart from the Rafale jets.

The five Rafale fighter jets were formally inducted into the IAF on September 10 in a major boost to India’s air power capability amid the country’s months-long border tension with China in eastern Ladakh.

According to an official as quoted by PTI, IAF’s helicopter fleet like Mi17V5, ALH Mark-4, Chinook, Mi-35 and Apache were also part of Tuesday’s show. 

Over the week, the air force had been sharing information about the aircraft which are going to be displayed at the parade.

With the motto ‘Touch the Sky with Glory’, the IAF, also known as Bharatiya Vayu Sena’, is one of the largest operational air forces in the world.