Warships INS Imphal, INS Udayagiri, INS Kolkata and INS Tamal closed the beach front and fired flares illuminating the skies. Three Chetak choppers were the next to take the stage and flew a banner formation in the flypast. Navy’s trainer jet, Hawk, performed a bomb-burst manoeuvre, while special forces simulated ‘Visit, Board, Search and Seizure’ (VBSS) operations that deal with pirates.

Another attraction was the combat freefall performed by Navy MARCOS commandos off a Dornier aircraft flying at 8,000ft. Using parachutes, they made pinpoint landings at the drop zone and one of the members walked on to the dais to present a memento to the President. Equally admired was the performance of the combat diving team, who ran a simulation of how vital infrastructure is targeted during war. Hawk advanced training jets, P-8I Neptune aircraft, Narang and Chetak choppers also stole the show.