Over 800 air shows in 30 years: IAF’s Suryakiran team celebrates 30 years of its precision flying

NEW DELHI: Over 800 air shows in 30 years. As Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) commemorated its 30th anniversary on Tuesday at Karnataka’s air force station, Bidar, the Indian Air Force congratulated the country's “daredevils of the skies” for their “precision, passion and pride”.

Celebrating the three decades of the SKAT, IAF in a post on X on Tuesday said, “From its debut in 1996 to over 800 breathtaking displays across India and abroad, SKAT continues to inspire with unmatched professionalism, precision flying and teamwork. Living by their motto ‘Sadaiva Sarvottam’ meaning ‘Always the Best’, the team symbolises the spirit and excellence of the IAF.”

Known officially as the “Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force”, SKAT over the years has conducted hundreds of aerial displays across India and abroad, representing the IAF 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.

The squad performs spectacular low-level aerobatics, loops, and barrel rolls, often painting the national tricolour across the sky.

The squadron is currently commanded by Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, an experienced Su-30 pilot with vast operational flying experience and a qualified flying instructor.

The team was raised with the aim of showcasing the professionalism, precision and operational excellence of the IAF through synchronised aerobatic displays.

SKAT initially flew the iconic Kiran Mk II aircraft, from which the team derived its name ‘Surya Kiran’, meaning ‘Rays of the Sun’. Over nearly two decades, the team performed numerous breathtaking displays across the country and became one of the most recognised symbols of the IAF.

In May 2006, the team was formally designated as 52 Squadron, ‘Sharks’, carrying forward the legacy of the erstwhile MiG-21 FL squadron. In 2015, the team transitioned to the more-advanced Hawk Mk-132 aircraft licensed 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 operational and display profile of the team.

Some memorable milestones in the history of SKAT include participation in major editions of Aero India, displays abroad in UAE, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Srilanka, Myanmar and China; the spectacular aerial display over Chennai that drew an estimated audience of nearly 1.7 million spectators along the coastline; first-ever aerial display over the Himalayas in 2026.