An Indian Air Force (IAF) Contingent including three Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter aircrafts arrived at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to participate in the biennial Dubai Air Show held from 14th to 18th November 21. These are from the No. 18 Squadron or the Flying Bullets based in Sulir Air Force Station and are from the Final Operation Clearance (FOC) batch.
The UAE Government has invited the IAF to participate in the air show with the Sarang and Suryakiran Aerobatic Teams. Both the teams will rub shoulders with some of the best aerobatics and display teams globally, which include the Saudi Hawks, Russian Knights and the UAE’s Al Fursan.
The IAF’s LCA Tejas will participate in aerobatics and static displays during the show.
The IAF has sent five Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruvs from the Sarang Team, 10 BAE Hawk 132s from the Suryakiran Team, along three LCA Tejas. These aircraft reached the venue on 9th November 2021. IAF’s transporters, the C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130J Super Hercules are supporting the contingent.
“On arrival, the contingent received a warm welcome by H. E. Staff Maj Gen Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Mohammed al-Balushi of the UAE Armed Forces and other officers of the UAE Air Force. The teams are now preparing for the opening ceremony on 14th November 21,” said the MoD release.
The Sarang Team had previously flown in the Al Ain Grand Prix in UAE in 2005. “The Dubai Air Show will be the first occasion for the Suryakirans and the Tejas to show off their swashbuckling aerial manoeuvres here,” adds the release.