IAF’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team set to thrill Hyderabad with spectacular air display

The Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team will perform in Hyderabad on June 11 and 13 during the Combined Graduate Parade at the Air Force Academy. The display will feature signature formations, precision flying and tricolour smoke trails by nine Hawk aircraft.

Hyderabad: The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) daredevils are set to dazzle Hyderabad skies once again, roaring and soaring high with their manoeuvres.

The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, is performing in the city as part of the Combined Graduate Parade (CGP) scheduled at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, on June 11 and 13.

---

Known as India’s Ambassadors in the Sky, the SKAT comprises nine Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, with 12 pilots led by Su-30 MKI pilot Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, which fly in extremely close proximity at a distance of merely 5 metres.

The team takes off in groups of three before joining the formation. Some of the unique formations of the team include Cross-Overs, Close-Trail Loops, Barrel Rolls, Inverted Passes, Tejas Formation, Yuva Formation, Heart Formation. The DNA Tricolour Formation is the SKAT’s signature formation.

Based at Air Force Station Bidar, Karnataka, the SKAT, which was established in 1996, holds the coveted title of being the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia, and one of the elite few teams in the world.

So far, the team has represented India in several countries, including Singapore, UAE, Laos, Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar. It has more than 800 displays to its credit in over 72 cities.

The Hawk Mk 132, which is an advanced jet trainer, is used to impart fighter flying training to the newly commissioned pilots of the IAF. This aircraft is made in India today by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), showcasing the nation’s aviation technology.

In 2024, the IAF integrated smoke pods capable of producing coloured smoke into the aircraft. Developed at IAF base repair depot, Nashik, the smoke pod allows the team to display the colours of the national flag—saffron, white, and green—across the sky during their aerial performances.