Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], April 20 (ANI): Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Sunday commended the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) for their performance at the air show held at Namkum Army Ground in Ranchi.

The event, attended by residents and officials, featured close formation flying and a display of the Indian tricolour in the sky.

Speaking to ANI, Mos Defence Seth said, 'Miraculous, unbelievable, unimaginable. First of all, I would like to salute the brave pilots of Surya Kiran... Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, our defence sector has become innovative, self-reliant, and stronger. People here were saluting our pride and honour, the Indian tricolour in the sky.'

'This air show was a milestone. We hope that we get to see another such amazing sight in September. Yesterday we missed three planes because they were damaged due to a hailstorm the day before yesterday... This is the new India. The new India roars. It does not turn its back, does not lower its eyes, does not spread its hands. This is PM Narendra Modi's new India, which looks into the eyes of the strongest nations of the world,' he added.

The air show drew a large number of spectators, who watched as the fighter jets flew in synchronised patterns, maintaining a height as low as 100 feet during some phases. The Surya Kiran team painted the sky with the colours of the national flag, prompting applause and salutes from the crowd below.

The Indian Air Force's renowned Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and is among the very few nine-aircraft aerobatics teams in the world, and the only one in Asia.

This one-of-a-kind team has carried out more than 500 displays in India, besides showcasing the professionalism of the Indian Air Force in Air Shows abroad in China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the UAE.

The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, popularly known as SKAT, inherits the motto 'Sadaiva Sarvottam' with ease, aptly describing the adage 'Always the Best'.

The Air Show was organised as part of the IAF's outreach programme and to spread awareness about the Armed Forces and to inspire the youth of the country to join the Armed Forces. (ANI)