The Indian Air Force celebrated its 88th anniversary on Monday in an annual parade at the Hindon base camp in Ghaziabad. The aviation wing of the Indian Armed Forces showcased the best of its fleet in the parade on this day. Chinook, Apache,  Mi-35 helicopters, as well as the Tejas LCA, Jaguar, Mig-29, Mig-21were a part of the parade.

However, this year’s attraction was the newly-inducted Rafale jets, which took part in the parade. The fighter jet carried out a a minimum radius turn within an area smaller than a hockey field forming a figure of eight during its demonstration.

Watch the video here:

Talking about the integration of the jets, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said earlier that the jets have given the IAF  an operational edge.

“Combined with upgraded op capabilities of our current fighter fleet, it(Rafale) gives us the ability to shoot first and strike deep and hard, even in contested airspace,” he said in a press conference.