Whole Dude – Whole Parade: Septuagenarian of Special Frontier Force celebrates the 75th Republic Day of India
India is celebrating its momentous Platinum Celebrations of the country’s 75th Republic Day on 26th January 2024 with an enthralling showcase of its military prowess and rich cultural heritage at the majestic ‘Kartavya Path’ in the national capital.This year French President Emmanuel Macron will be the chief guest.
President Droupadi Murmu will hoist the national flag at 8 am at Kartavya Path. Based on the twin themes of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat – Loktantra ki Matruka’, this year’s parade will witness the participation of around 13,000 special Guests – an initiative which will provide an opportunity to people from all walks of life to take part in the celebrations and encourage Jan Bhagidari in this national festival.
Tableaux of 16 States and nine ministries will also take part. The grand performance includes 30 folk dance styles uniquely prevalent in different states, as well as contemporary classical dance and Bollywood styles. The artists include tribal dancers, folk dancers, and classical dancers.
The Republic Day 2024 parade will commence at 10:30 am (IST) from New Delhi’s Vijay Chowk, following the route from Vijay Chowk to Kartavya Path. It will start at Rashtrapati Bhawan and proceed to the Rajpath or Kartavya Path.
This year’s top attractions include a women’s tri-service group parade, a French contingent to join the R-Day parade, six Indians to join the French military team in the Republic Day parade
Rajputana Rifles led by Lieutenant Sanyam Chaudhary of 20th Batallion marched past the Kartavya Path as part of the Republic Day parade, with war cry ‘Raja Ram Chandra Ki Jai!’ echoing in sync on their mouths. Its motto is ‘Veer Bhogaya Vasundarah’. With first battalion of Rajputana Rifles having being raised in 1775, it is the oldest Rifle Regiment of the Indian Army.
It also has the distinction of winning the first Victoria Cross in 1856. The Regiment has displayed exceptional valour and bravery, wherever it has been deployed.
During the Kargil war of 1999, the gallant action of 7th & 11th battalions of Rajputana Rifles led to the capture of Tololing and Haneefuddin sector.
The Regiment has a rare and impeccable distinction of winning 10 Arjuna Awards
Nag Missile System
The detachment Nag Missile System (NAMIS) of Mechanised Infantry Regiment led by Capt Abhay Pandit of 17 Mechanised Infantry Regiment. The System popularly called NAMIS is a tank destroyer indigenously designed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory Hyderabad. It consists of a tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle, which has a crew-less turret capable of firing six ‘Nag’ Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.
The NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) is a stretched, license-built BMP-2 with additional wheels, nicknamed “Sarath” in India. Classified as a tank destroyer, it is equipped with various electro-optical systems including a thermal imager (TI) and a laser rangefinder (LRF) for target acquisition.
The NAMICA carries a total of twelve missiles, with six in ready-to-fire mode and six in storage. It has a compact auxiliary power unit (APU) for silent watch operation, a fire detection and suppression system (FDSS) and nuclear, biological and chemical protection system (NBCPS). The carrier weights 14.5 ton in fully combat load and is capable of moving 7 Km/hr in water.
NAMICA can fire missiles at a target located around 7.5 Km with hunter-killer sight capability and carries 4 Military personnel. Its motto is ‘Satrah Mech Har Maidan Fateh’.
Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP 2/2K
The mechanised column of Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP – 2 /2K of GUARDS Regiment led by Lt Shivam Singh of 23 GUARDS. ICV BMP-2 named SARATH, is a high mobility Inf Combat Vehicle (ICV) with potent armament and state of the art night fighting capability, which makes it capable to destroy any unknown enemy target upto a distance of 4 ICms at night. It can operate effectively in all battlefield terrains of desert, mountainous region or high-altitude area.
The ICV is equipped with 30mm Automatic Cannon Gun, 7.62mm PKT & Konkurs missiles, upgraded with Thermal Imaging (TI) night sights. Being an all-weather amphibious combat vehicle, ICV (BMP-2) is battle ready for full spectrum of challenges & conflicts and thus truly considered as Backbone of Indian Army’s Mechanized Warfare. While its motto its Pehla Hamesha Pehla, its war cry is Garud Ka Hoon Bol Pyare.
Pinaka Multiple-Rocket Launcher System
The next detachment of PINAKA of the Regiment of Artillery from 1890 Rocket Regiment, led by Lt Priyanka Sevda of 262 Field Regiment. Pinaka Multiple Launcher Rocket System is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured medium range, all weather and free flight artillery rocket system.
The domestically conceived and produced Pinaka Multiple Rocket Launcher System prominently showcased India’s defence capabilities and underscored the country’s dedication to self-sufficiency in defence technology.
The parade showcased a medium-range surface-to-air missile with a surveillance range of 300 km and the capacity to engage hostile aerial platforms within a range of 70 km. This missile system underscores India’s emphasis on enhancing air defence capabilities, ensuring protection across diverse threat scenarios.
It is fully automated, offensive weapon system with each launcher boasting of 12 rockets of 214mm caliber having a range of 37.5 kilometer. Its motto is `Sarvatra Izzat ‘O’ Iqbal –
‘Everywhere with Honour and Glory’.
Drone Jammer and Advanced Radio Frequency Monitoring System
The Indian Army’s Corps of Signals showcased the mobile drone jammer and advanced radio frequency monitoring systems. These technologies are designed to tackle contemporary threats, demonstrating India’s proactive stance in addressing unmanned aerial vehicles and monitoring radio frequencies to bolster security measures.
The detachment of Mobile Drone Jammer System and Advance Radio Frequency Monitoring led by Lt Col Ankita Chauhan of 11 Electronic Warfare Battalion.
Drone Jammer System of Indian Army is used to detect and track drones and UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) signals (downlink), as well as ground control signals (GDT, Uplink) and to jam drone activities.
The electro-optical sub-system serves to identify, track and verify the target. Besides detection and tracking of drones, The DJ System can neutralize hostile drone activities using Directional high-power smart jamming of drone UAS control uplink signals. The DJ system is installed on two high mobility standard 2.5-ton vehicles.
The DJ system is equipped with electro-optical subsystem and RF sensors to scan the radio frequencies.
Swathi – Weapon Locating Radar System
The detachment of SWATHI – Weapon Locating Radar System, led by Lt Deepti Rana of Regiment of Artillery.
Weapon locating radar SWATHI, developed by DRDO and Bharat Electronics Ltd, is highly mobile radar system designed for automatic first round detection SWATHI is a coherent c-band, passive electronically scanned phased array radar intended to be used as weapon locating radar and for direction of own artillery fire (DOOAF).
SWATHI is a two tatra vehicle configuration system comprising radar vehicle and power source cum bite (PSB) vehicle with twin generators and the auxiliary components. It has the capability to classify projectile targets and rejection of unwanted targets (Clutter/ Aircraft).
SWATHI being a phased array radar operates in Cband with fence detection mode of operation, ensuring first detection and tracking of shells, motors and rockets. In its secondary role, it can track and direct friendly artillery fire. The radar can provide corrections to projectile trajectory of friendly artillery to pin point the fire towards enemy.
Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System
The of ‘Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System’ of Corps of Engineers led by Capt Suman Singh of 9 Rapid Engineer Regiment 15m Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System is a “Made in India’ specialized equipment to be employed by Engineer units for bridging over dry and wet gaps. This vehicle-mounted, multi-apron, mechanically-launched mobile bridge system is designed for speedy deployment and
retrieval under tactical conditions.
It has a capability of spanning a minimum of 15m in single span, and a maximum of 75m in multi-span. The deployed bridge equipment is suitable for the crossing of ‘A’ as well as ‘B’ vehicles upto a load class MLC-70.
All Terrain Vehicles
The detachment comprised of six modern specialist vehicles, to include ‘Quick Reaction Force Vehicles — Heavy and Medium, a Light Specialist vehicle, Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System, All-terrain vehicle and a Specialist Mobility Vehicle.
The detachment is led by Major Toofan Singh Chauhan, 5 Rajput on All-Terrain Vehicle, Lt Col Panmei Kabiphun on Light Specialist Vehicle, 19 Maratha Light Infantry & Capt Armandeep Singh Aujla of 2nd Battalion of the First Gorkha Rifles on QRFV.
Tank T-90 Bhishma
The detachment of Tank T-90 BHISHMA, led by Lt Fayz Singh Dhillon of 42 Armoured Regiment.
Bhishma Tank is a 3rd generation Russian Main Battle Tank armed with 125 mm smooth bore gun. T-90 functions on the hunter killer concept. It can fire four types of ammunition and also has the capability of firing a missile from gun upto range of 5000 mtrs. Bhishma tank can hunt and kill at night effectively with the help of thermal imaging sight. It also has ERA panels which makes the armour of this lethal machine even stronger.
The 46-ton giant machine can move upto a speed of 50 to 60 km per hour and can operate in all types of terrains effectively. The colors of the Regiment are French Grey, Maroon, Black. Its motto is ‘Karam Shaurya Vijay’ (Action Courage Victory).
Whole Dude - Whole Concept 