Bengaluru, February 5: The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) will perform at the much-awaited Aero India show, scheduled to take place at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru from February 10-14, officials said on Wednesday. The team comprises nine Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, licensed-manufactured in India, flying in extremely close proximity, at a distance of less than five meters. The team includes 14 pilots, they added.

The team leader is Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, a Su-30 MKI pilot, while the Deputy Leader is Group Captain Sidhesh Kartik, officials added. "The SKAT, better known as the 'Ambassadors of the IAF', is renowned for its precision, skill, and teamwork. This elite team, flying the striking red-and-white Hawk Mk 132 jets, will showcase a series of jaw-dropping manoeuvres. From the graceful loop and the thrilling barrel roll to the gravity-defying inverted flying and the crowd-favourite DNA manoeuvre, every performance is a testament to the pilots' unmatched expertise and coordination," an official statement from the Defence Wing of the PIB said. Aero India 2025: Date, Show Timings, Venue, Ticket Price, How To Register – All About India’s Premier Aerospace and Defence Exhibition.

The pilots undergo intensive training to master complex aerobatic manoeuvres, with their expertise and flawless coordination forming the foundation of close formation flying, it added. According to the statement, SKAT was established in 1996. The team holds the coveted title of being the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia and is one of the elite aerobatic teams in the world. The team has performed over 700 displays across India while also representing the Indian Air Force's professionalism at international air shows in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, and the UAE, it stated. Aero India 2025: Flight Operations at Bengaluru Airport To Halt From February 5 to 14, Check Full Schedule.

"The recent integration of smoke pods with the Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, capable of producing coloured smoke, is a significant indigenous modification developed in India at an IAF base. This allows the team to display the three colours of the national flag across the sky during their aerial performances". "This enhancement not only adds visual impact to the displays but also serves as a powerful symbol of national pride, celebrating India's achievements in aerospace engineering and innovation," it added. Aero India is India's premier aerospace and defence exhibition, where global aerospace vendors and the Indian Air Force captivate spectators with back-to-back aerobatic displays.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)