Suryakiran Aerobatic Team reflects IAF’s precision flying legacy
The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), the aerobatic display team of the Indian Air Force, has grown into one of the country’s most recognisable symbols of precision flying and aerial excellence since its formation in 1996 at Air Force Station Bidar.
Constituted to demonstrate the professionalism, operational capability and synchronised flying skills of the Indian Air Force, the team initially flew the Kiran Mk II trainer aircraft, from which it derived the name “Surya Kiran”, meaning “Rays of the Sun”.
In May 2006, the team was formally designated as 52 Squadron, “Sharks”, inheriting the legacy of the erstwhile MiG-21 FL squadron. A major transition followed in 2015 with the induction of the Hawk Mk-132 advanced jet trainer aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The move significantly enhanced the team’s display capabilities with modern avionics, improved performance and advanced smoke-generation systems.
“Over the years, the team has carried out hundreds of aerial displays across India and abroad, representing the Indian Air Force at major aviation events, national celebrations and international air shows,” officials said.
The team has performed in several countries, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, China and the United Arab Emirates, earning recognition for its precision manoeuvres and colourful formations.
Among the notable milestones in the squadron’s history are its participation in several editions of Aero India and a large-scale aerial display over Chennai, which reportedly drew an estimated audience of nearly 1.7 million spectators along the coastline.
“The squadron also conducted its first-ever aerial display over the Himalayas in 2026, marking another significant achievement in its operational history,” officials added.
The squadron is currently commanded by Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, an experienced Su-30 pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor with extensive operational flying experience.