Somnath: For the first time in Somnath, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will organise the prestigious ‘Suryakiran Air Show’ on May 11 as part of the ongoing Somnath Amrit Parva-2026 celebrations, an official statement said.

The aerobatic display, scheduled to begin at 11 am in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will feature six Hawk Mk-132 fighter jets performing a series of thrilling aerial manoeuvres over the skies of Prabhas Patan near the Somnath temple.

According to the IAF, the aircraft will showcase formations and stunts including the Tricolor Smoke Trail, colour smoke patterns, loops and rolls, close formation flying and the diamond formation. A replica of the Indian tricolour will also be created in the sky using coloured smoke during the show.

Wing Commander Janmeet Sharma said the air show would be conducted by six Hawk Mk-132 aircraft operated by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team. He added that a full rehearsal of the event would take place on May 10 from 11 am. The jets will operate from the Jamnagar Air Force Station.

Flight Lieutenant and team commentator Kanwal Sandhu said this would be the first-ever Suryakiran Air Show held at the Somnath temple. The exercise will be conducted under the leadership of Group Captain Ajay Dashrathi.

The Hawk Mk-132 aircraft are primarily used for advanced pilot training by the Indian Air Force, but can also be deployed during emergencies, disaster situations in inaccessible regions and wartime operations.

During the performance, the fighter jets are expected to fly at speeds ranging between 800 and 900 kmph. Initially, all six aircraft will fly together before splitting into separate formations to perform various aerobatic manoeuvres.

The IAF has also made extensive arrangements for flight safety and bird hazard management. Officials said Bird Hazard Control (BHC) teams have been deployed to prevent birds from interfering with the aerial display. Local residents have been requested not to discard leftover food in open areas for two days before the event to minimise bird activity around the venue.

The Suryakiran team is additionally equipped with special sound-based firecrackers used to safely disperse birds without causing them harm.

As per the press release, the pilots and ground teams would remain in continuous coordination through radio communication systems during the exercise. Squadron Leader Aman Goyal will remain stationed on the ground to guide pilots regarding speed, aircraft distance and potential hazards throughout the performance.

The air show is expected to draw thousands of devotees, tourists and local residents to Somnath during the ongoing Somnath Amrit Parva-2026 celebrations. DeshGujarat