The Indian Air Force conducted its first air show in the northeast on Sunday as part of its 93rd anniversary celebrations, deploying 75 aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs, Rafale fighter jets, helicopters, and aerobatic teams. The event showcased India’s aerial capabilities in a region of significant strategic importance, drawing thousands of spectators and top dignitaries.

First Northeast Air Show Marks a Shift in IAF Tradition

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said the IAF had long planned to organise an air show in the northeast but previously faced logistical constraints. Traditionally held in October, the event was shifted to November this year to align with the IAF anniversary celebrations and enable its first-ever staging in the region. Singh praised the people and local administration for their strong support.

The show concluded with the Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter display team performing synchronised manoeuvres, drawing widespread appreciation from the crowd.

Top Leadership in Attendance

Assam governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya served as chief guest at the event, which was also attended by Air Chief Marshal Singh, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and senior IAF officers. The leadership presence underscored the symbolic and strategic weight of holding the display in the northeastern sector.

Sarma Links Event to Strategic Messaging

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma framed the air show as a demonstration of India’s strengthened defence posture in the northeast. On X, he highlighted how the region has progressed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Referring to the 1962 India-China war, Sarma contrasted the present show of strength with the sense of abandonment felt in the region at the time.

Sarma said the powerful display of aerial capability near the Siliguri Corridor—often called the “Chicken’s Neck”—sent a deterrent message to adversaries. “Your overwhelming support for Bharat’s Air Warriors… will give sleepless nights to enemies inside and outside the country,” he wrote.

Strategic Location Adds Significance

The air show was held close to the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow 22-km land strip in West Bengal that connects the northeast with the rest of India. Flanked by Nepal and Bangladesh, the corridor is a critical link in India’s national security architecture.

The timing of the event is notable, coinciding with shifting geopolitical dynamics in South Asia. Since the 2024 political transition in Bangladesh—where Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus heads a caretaker government following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and self-exile in India—military and diplomatic engagements between Bangladesh and Pakistan have increased. This has unfolded alongside a downturn in India-Bangladesh relations.

These developments add strategic depth to the IAF’s decision to highlight aerial dominance in the northeast, a region that borders China, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Bangladesh and is central to India’s security posture.

Aerial Strength and Regional Outreach

By deploying front-line fighter jets like the Su-30 MKI and Rafale and hosting aerobatic demonstrations, the IAF aimed to connect with citizens in a region where defence infrastructure and military presence have expanded significantly in recent years.

The air show also served as a public reaffirmation of India’s commitment to strengthening its defence capabilities along key border areas. With evolving regional alignments and enduring security challenges, the event highlighted both operational readiness and symbolic reassurance to the local population.

The IAF is expected to continue expanding its outreach and showcasing its capabilities across diverse regions as part of its annual commemorations and strategic engagement plans.