Guwahati is set to host one of the largest-ever aerial displays in the Northeast as the Indian Air Force stages a grand air show on November 9, featuring around 150 aircraft, including the Rafale, Sukhoi and MiG fighter jets.
The show, to be held over the Brahmaputra at Lachit Ghat, will be graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking a spectacular highlight of the IAF’s ongoing Air Force Day celebrations in the region.
Announcing the event, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “On November 9, the Union Defence Minister will attend a mega Air Show at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati, wherein 150 planes of the Indian Air Force will display their strength, including Rafales, Sukhois, and MiGs.”
Themed “Infallible, Impervious and Precise”, the event will symbolise the Air Force’s core values of excellence, accuracy and unyielding discipline. It will be the first time such a large-scale aerial demonstration is being held in the Northeast, showcasing the nation’s evolving defence capabilities and the IAF’s expanding footprint in the region.
According to officials, the show will feature a wide range of aircraft, from frontline fighter jets to transport carriers and helicopters, performing synchronised formation flying, intricate manoeuvres and precision aerobatics. Among the key highlights will be fly-pasts by Rafale and Sukhoi squadrons, formation flights involving MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s, and demonstrations by the Sarang helicopter display team.
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Public viewing zones will be set up along the Brahmaputra riverfront to enable residents and visitors to watch the high-decibel aerial spectacle unfold over Guwahati’s skyline. The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators from across Assam and neighbouring states.
Officials said the show aims to inspire the youth of the Northeast to join the armed forces and to instil a sense of national pride. “The Indian Air Force’s presence in this part of the country is not merely strategic but symbolic of India’s inclusive defence outreach,” an official said.
The IAF’s decision to hold the mega event in Assam also underscores the growing importance of the Northeast in India’s national security framework. With upgraded airbases, enhanced surveillance facilities and increased joint operations with the Army, the region has emerged as a key component of India’s eastern air command structure.
The show is expected to feature not only combat aircraft but also transport planes such as the C-130J Super Hercules and AN-32, along with aerial refuelling demonstrations by the IL-78. Aerial displays by the Akash Ganga skydiving team and advanced light helicopters are also on the roster, promising a dynamic mix of power and precision.
The Assam government has directed local authorities to ensure elaborate security, traffic and crowd management arrangements during the event. Special traffic advisories will be issued closer to the date to manage the expected influx of visitors to the riverfront area.
Before Singh’s arrival, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Assam on November 7 and 8 to inaugurate several infrastructure projects, including the Guwahati Gateway Terminal and the Guwahati Riverfront Project. She will also lay the foundation stone of the Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University at Gohpur.
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