Hans News Service Visakhapatnam

TheSuryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), the premier aerobatic display team of the Indian Air Force, continues to showcase its might and operational excellence ever since its formation in 1996. Based at Air Force Station Bidar, the team was raised with an aim of showcasing the professionalism, precision and operational excellence of the Indian Air Force through synchronised aerobatic displays. The squadron is presently commanded by Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, an experienced Su-30 pilot with a vast operational flying experience and a Qualified Flying Instructor.

Over the years, SKAT has carried out hundreds of aerial displays across India and abroad, representing the Indian Air Force at prestigious air shows, national celebrations and international aviation events. The team has performed in countries including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, China and the UAE, earning admiration for its precision flying and vibrant formations. Initially, SKAT flew the iconic Kiran Mk II aircraft, from which the team derived its name ‘Surya Kiran’ (sun’s rays). The team performed numerous breathtaking displays across the country and became one of the most recognised symbols of the Indian Air Force.

In May 2006, the team was formally designated as 52 Squadron, ‘Sharks’, carrying forward the distinguished legacy of the erstwhile MiG-21 FL squadron. In 2015, the team transitioned to the more advanced Hawk Mk-132 aircraft produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited significantly enhancing its display capabilities with modern avionics, improved performance and smoke-generation systems. The induction of the Hawk aircraft marked a new era in the team’s operational and display profile.

Participation in major editions of Aero India, displays abroad in the UAE, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China, the spectacular aerial display over Chennai that drew an estimated audience of nearly 1.7 million spectators along the coastline, and the first-ever aerial display over the Himalayas in 2026 form remarkable milestones in SKAT’s history.

The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team is commemorating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of its spectacular aerial displays performed across India and abroad.