Drone operations feature for first time at Army Day parade
The Indian Army, for the first time, demonstrated its drone services at the Army Day parade in Cariappa Ground, Delhi on Friday. Around 75 drones carried out mock kamikaze attacks and first-aid delivery exercises. The parade also saw detachments of the upgraded anti-aircraft weapon system Schilka, BrahMos missile system, infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2, T-72 bridge laying tanks, and multi-rocket launcher system Pinaka.
Army Chief conferred with gallantry awards at the event
Army Chief General MM Naravane was conferred with gallantry awards and unit citations at the event, which was attended by Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, and Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. The first detachment of the parade was of the upgraded anti-aircraft weapon system Schilka which was commanded by Captain Preeti Chaudhary of the 140 AD regiment.
15 Army personnel were awarded the Sena Medal
Marching contingents of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Mahar Regiment, Garhwal Regiment, and Jat Regiment also participated in the parade. Thirteen Army officers of the Northern Command, eight officers of the Eastern Command, one officer each of the Southern Command and the Central Command received unit citations from the Army chief, while 15 Army personnel were awarded the Sena Medal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the Indian Army
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to "salute the Indian Army on behalf of all the countrymen." He congratulated the "mighty soldiers of the country" and their families on Army Day. President Ram Nath Kovind, too, expressed his gratitude to the "courageous and committed soldiers" over Twitter. "We remember the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation," he added.
PM Modi's tweet wishing the brave soldiers on Army Day
Why is Army Day celebrated?
Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year in recognition of Field Marshal KM Cariappa's taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander in 1949. It is celebrated in the national capital, as well as in all the six Army Command Headquarters.
