Suryakiran Aerobatic Team Performs in Meerut for the First Time, Mesmerizing Over One Lakh Spectators

The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force performed its spectacular aerial displays for the first time in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on September 19 and 20, 2026. More than one lakh spectators attended the two-day air show, including a large number of students, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers. A special highlight of the event was that three members of the team, including two pilots, are residents of Meerut.

The performance utilized nine specialized red and white Hawk Mk-132 aircraft, manufactured in India under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The team demonstrated high-level skills in the sky, including magnificent loops, thrilling barrel rolls, inverted flights, and the famous 'DNA' maneuver. These aircraft fly at a distance of less than five meters from one another, reflecting the unwavering trust and discipline among the pilots. Due to technical modifications carried out by the Indian Air Force's Base Repair Depot in Nashik, the aircraft were able to release colored smoke in the three colors of the national flag—saffron, white, and green—across the sky.

Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth, witnessed the performance on September 20 and praised it on the social media platform X, describing it as an excellent coordination of discipline, precision, and team spirit. On the first day of the display, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also lauded the courage and precision of the pilots, calling it a proud moment for Uttar Pradesh and the country under the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'. Several dignitaries attended the program, including Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai, Minister of State for the Government of Uttar Pradesh Shri Somendra Tomar, and Legislative Council members Shri Ashwini Tyagi and Shri Dharmendra Bhardwaj.

Formed in 1996, the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team is the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia. Throughout its 30-year journey, SKAT has conducted more than 800 aerial displays in India as well as in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Dubai. Acting as 'Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force,' the team inspires youth to pursue careers in the defense services.