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IFR 2001 ends with a stunning
show on Marine Drive

Josy Joseph in Bombay

Showcasing a new phase of maritime diplomacy and with a stunning show of India's naval and air power, the International City Parade on Sunday enthralled thousands of people gathered on Marine Drive in south Bombay.

Among those who witnessed the parade were Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Home Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar, chiefs of several foreign navies and other dignitaries.

Thousands of people filled every inch of open space on Marine Drive to witness the truly international parade, some stunning performances by naval rescue teams and marine commandos, and a grand air show, put up by the Navy, the Coast Guard and the Air Force.

The city parade, last of the big events of India's first International Fleet Review, comprised marching columns from the Indian Navy, the Army, the National Cadet Corps, the National Defence Academy and contingents from almost all participating countries.

Marching behind the parade commander, Commodore N S Joshi, commanding officer of INS Angre, was a squad of children carrying flags of all 30 participating countries.

Behind them, was the Western Naval Command contingent that was the first full marching contingent, followed by the Naval band and a contingent of the Eastern Naval command.

Several army columns added an extra meaning to the parade. There was 13 Dogra Regiment, Dogra Regimental Centre, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Garhwal Rifles.

The first foreign marching contingent was that of the Australian Navy, followed by the band team of the Bangladesh Navy and its marching column.

There were marching contingents from France, the US, Sri Lanka, Japan, Kenya and Malaysia too.

They were tailed by a contingent of Sea Cadet Corps. The National Cadets Corps, which followed them, marched with Jai Jai Shivaji shouts.

The marching contingent of the National Defence Academy, Kadakwasala, however, stole the show. The precise steps and the synchronisation earned them applauds all along the stretch of Marine Drive.

The marching contingents were followed by some tableaux. The Defence Research and Development Organisation presented the Advanced Light Helicopter's naval version.

Ironically, it also had a model of the naval version of Light Combat Aircraft. The LCA was test flown in January for the first time, but a naval version of the LCA is nowhere in sight, and the navy is no mood to delay its future plans for the indigenous aircraft.

Coastal states of Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka also had their tableaux. While Maharashtra's tableu was on Shivaji, Kerala depicted the legendary naval warrior Kunjali Marakar.

Naval Dockyard had a tableau on the international fleet review itself.

Following the parade, the naval rescue and search teams put up an impressive display of their capabilities. Flying in Chetak helicopters, the rescue teams carried out a mock rescue operation.

The marine commandos, touted among world's best special forces, staged a mock attack on an oil rig and exploded the platform in an operation that lasted less than eight minutes.

The Marcos arrived in Sea King helicopters, and with the assistance of high-speed boats, reached the rig and planted explosives. As the three rigs blasted, Marine Drive reverberated with the applauds of a surprised crowd.

The combined fly past by the Air Force, the Navy and the Coast Guard was breathtaking.

Navy flew several combinations of Chetaks, Sea Kings and Kamovs helicopters.

The crowd was delighted as the four Kiran trainers of the Navy roared past them.

The big boys of naval aviation -- IL -38 and Tu-142 -- too flew in formation.

A formation of Sea Harrier fighters performed a mock bomb delivery by spitting flames.

The Air Force staged its Mig-29s, Sukhoi-30s and the Surya Kiran teams.

The Sukhoi-30s, undoubtedly the best weapon in the Air Force's kitty and among the world's most versatile fighters, came in a formation of four and one of them split away to stage a solo performance. The crowd was delighted.

Children covered their ears as the Sukhoi roared past. After carrying out several manoeuvres, the Sukhoi went up in the sky swirling and finally disappearing into the clouds.

The nine-aircraft formation of Surya Kiran team was also a delight to watch. Painted in red, the nine aircraft carried out precise manoeuvres and smoked the Indian tri-colour several times into the air.

The Surya Kiran's ended their performance by drawing a Valentine heart in the sky and passing an arrow through it. And then the commander of the team flew over the VIP dais, symbolically saluting the prime minister.

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