IAF helicopters to fly past Red Fort with Operation Sindoor flag on Independence Day

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will stage a special flypast over the Red Fort this Independence Day, with three helicopters flying in formation carrying the National Flag and the Operation Sindoor flag. As in previous years, the aircraft will also shower petals over the public.

Around 15 Defence personnel who took part in Operation Sindoor will be seated on the Red Fort rampart, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his address to the nation.

A senior official noted that the IAF has a long tradition of displaying the Indian flag on its aircraft during national events like Independence Day and Republic Day. This year, to mark the success of Operation Sindoor—launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indians and one Nepali—the helicopters will also carry the special flag.

Operation Sindoor in invitations

The Ministry of Defence has made Operation Sindoor the central theme of this year’s Independence Day invitations. The cards feature the operation’s name at the top right corner and a sketch of the Chenab railway bridge in the middle, replacing the Central Vista image embossed on the cards. Recently inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the bridge has connected the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country by rail for the first time.

Security Measures

Security agencies have deployed enhanced aerial surveillance around the Red Fort, with a complete ban on the use of ‘Made in China’ surveillance equipment in and around the venue.

Another round of security meeting was held on Monday (August 11, 2025), where various aspects of security measures were checked, and staff were ordered to conduct security drills.