India To Unveil ‘Battle Array’ Formation, Sudharshan Chakra During Republic Day Parade

The Indian Army plans to showcase its first-ever ‘Battle Array’ formation that reflects real-time battlefield deployment and the Sudharshan Chakra air defence framework as part of the 77th Republic Day parade on the Kartavya Path on Monday (January 26, 2026).

Interestingly, the Army would for the first time carry out the parade in the marching and mechanised columns patterned on its offensive, combat-capability sequence, providing a rare insight into how modern warfare is planned and military operations are carried out.

What is a Battle Array?

Named in Hindi as ‘Ranbhoomi Vyuh Rachna,’ the Battle Array is an integrated force structure that would involve intelligence collection, carrying out surveillance, and doing reconnaissance through specialised units for the purpose, and then pushing the fighting forces such as the infantry, mechanised, artillery, special forces, logistics, air defence, and the aviation assets into battle.

This integrated fighting force would highlight the Indian Army’s robust fighting structures that are driven by data-analysed operations, executing precision strikes, and operating deep behind enemy lines.

A layered air defence network, reworked as the Sudharshan Chakra, a tribute to the most powerful mythical weapon system that destroys the enemy without mercy, would support the forward-moving fighting forces as the troops advance.

How is the Republic Day parade a celebration of Operation Sindoor?

The Republic Day display by the Indian Army would celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor, carried out against Pakistan-based terror infrastructure in May 2025.

This would provide a rare glimpse of the jointness achieved by the Indian armed forces and the powerful performances by the indigenous weapon systems and platforms that were the core of the Indian defence against Pakistan, bringing to the fore the ‘Aatmanibhar Bharat’ initiative.

What are the debuts planned during the Republic Day parade?

This year’s Republic Day parade would be the debut event for various Indian Army’s new initiatives. These would include the Bhairav Battalion, Shaktiban Regiment, and Divyastra Batteries.

The parade would showcase the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, Universal Rocket Launcher System, unmanned ground vehicles, robotic dogs, drones, loitering munitions, and rugged terrain transport systems. Specialist service animals, including Bactrian camels, Zanskar ponies, raptors, and trained dogs, will be part of the parade.

What would the special tableau depict?

The Indian Army’s special tableau will depict an Integrated Operations Centre, showcasing joint planning, precision targeting and real-time air defence operations under the ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ framework.

Six contingents from the Indian Army, comprising a mixed scouts in an operational role, would be the highlight of the parade, involving Rajput, Assam, J&K Light Infantry, Bhairav Battalion, and the Artillery regiments.

The mechanised and aviation segments will feature T-90 Bhishma and Arjun main battle tanks, BMP-II Sarath and NAMIS-II missile systems, along with helicopters, including ALH Dhruv, Rudra, Apache AH-64E, and LCH Prachand.

The Indian firepower systems, such as Dhanush artillery guns, Suryastra URLS, BrahMos missiles, Akash, and MRSAM air defence systems, would be on the parade.