The Sarang team has represented Indian aviation at air shows across the world

The Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force is all set to perform for the first time at the MAKS International Air Show in Russia.

This year’s edition of the biennial event is being held at Zhukovsky International Airport, Russia from July 20 to 25.

The Sarang Team will be performing its four helicopter aerobatics display with its ‘Made in India’ ‘Dhruv’ Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

These HAL-manufactured machines have hinge-less rotors and are equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, which makes them extremely suitable for military aviation. Apart from the IAF, the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard also operate this helicopter, the ministry pointed out.

The Sarang Team was formed in 2003 at Bangalore. Its first international display was at the Asian Aerospace Airshow at Singapore in 2004.

Sarang has represented Indian aviation at air shows and ceremonial occasions in UAE, Germany, UK, Bahrain, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

Apart from aerobatics displays at national and international venues, the team has also taken active part in numerous Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Missions like Op Rahat in Uttarakhand (2013), Cyclone Ockhi in Kerala (2017) and Op Karuna flood relief in Kerala (2018).