Overview
- The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team held a 30th anniversary event at Air Force Station Bidar on Tuesday, and the IAF said the team has performed over 800 displays since its 1996 debut.
- On May 11 the team flew over Somnath during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and used indigenous smoke pods to paint saffron, white and green in the sky.
- Earlier in 2026 the team completed its first-ever aerial display over the Himalayas, extending SKAT’s repertoire of challenging environments and high-altitude flying.
- SKAT has flown Kiran Mk II trainers in its early years and moved to HAL‑licensed Hawk Mk‑132 jets in 2015, an upgrade that brought modern avionics, higher performance and improved smoke systems for tricolour displays.
- Operating as No. 52 Squadron under Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, the nine‑aircraft team serves as a public face of the IAF that aids recruitment, morale and India’s soft power through national ceremonies and international shows.