Republic Day Parade 2024 Showcases Unique Animal Soldiers and Indigenous Military Might
New Delhi is set to witness an extraordinary spectacle during the 90-minute Republic Day parade on Monday, where a rare contingent of "animal soldiers" will march down Kartavya Path for the first time. This unique group, joining 6,050 military personnel, includes Bactrian camels from Ladakh, Zanskar ponies, specially-trained raptors, and indigenously-bred military dogs, all under the command of Captain Harshita Yadav from the Indian Army's Remount & Veterinary Corps.
Captain Harshita Yadav Leads Curated Animal Contingent
Captain Harshita Yadav, daughter of a retired IAF officer and from the first batch of the Remount & Veterinary Corps, emphasized the uniqueness of this contingent. "This contingent is very uniquely curated. There are two Bactrian camels from Ladakh, four Zanskar ponies, four raptors (specially-trained birds of prey), 10 military dogs, mostly indigenously-bred. They are all Army soldiers and have different operational roles," she told TOI.
The Bactrian camels, recently inducted into Army operations, are perfectly adapted to extreme cold, thin air, and altitudes above 15,000 feet. They can carry loads of up to 250 kg and traverse long distances in cold deserts, showcasing their strategic utility.
Neuroscience in Animal Training and Indigenous Dog Roles
Captain Harshita explained that training animals like kites involves neuroscience, making them highly trainable once the science is understood. The Indian Army has been using indigenously-bred dogs for detection purposes such as explosives, mine detection, tracking, search, avalanche rescue, and protection roles including assault on enemies.
S-400 Air Defence System and Operation Sindoor Tableau
IAF Air Commodore Manish Sabharwal announced that the S-400 air defence system, which has documented kills including multiple Pakistan aircraft and a spy plane from over 300 km deep inside Pakistan, will be showcased at the Department of Military Affairs tableau. This tableau will highlight India's victory in Operation Sindoor last year and the jointness of the three services, featuring lethal military weapons and depicting the destruction of Pakistani infrastructure.
Military Innovations and Debuts in the Parade
Major General Navraj Dhillon, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, revealed several first-time participants, including the Battalion, Shaktibaan regiment, drone shakti, robotic mules, and Ladakh Scouts. The Army will debut a Battle Array Formation with synchronised manoeuvres alongside tanks, missile systems, drones, and armoured platforms.
Key defence assets on display include:
- BrahMos missile system
- Akash missile system
- Medium Range Surface-To-Air Missile (MRSAM) system
- Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)
- Dhanush artillery gun
- Shaktiban regiment with drone, counter-drone, and loiter munition capabilities
The Universal Rocket Launcher System URLS 'Suryastra', capable of surface-to-surface strikes up to 300 km, is also making its parade debut.
International Guests and Women's Participation
With European Council president Antonio Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as chief guests, a small EU contingent led by a colonel-rank officer will participate. Women's participation is significant, with CRPF's Assistant Commandant Simran Bala becoming the first woman officer to lead an all-male contingent, and Captain Samira, a fourth-generation army officer, commanding an Army tableau on Op Sindoor.
DRDO Innovations and IAF Flypast
DRDO will showcase path-breaking innovations, including the long-range anti-ship hypersonic missile (LR-AShM) and naval technologies for combat submarines. The IAF flypast, named "Operation Sindoor," will feature Rafale, Su-30, Jaguar, and MiG-29 combat jets, symbolizing dominance during last May's hostilities with Pakistan, with 29 aircraft in total.
The parade will include 30 tableaux rolling down Kartavya Path, themed around 150 years of Vande Mataram, celebrating India's military prowess and self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
