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The Indian Air Force's Sarang Helicopter Display Team arrived in Egypt on 6 September 2026 for the second edition of the El Alamein International Airshow, held from 8 to 10 September 2026.
Sarang is the world's only five-helicopter aerobatic display team and flies the indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv.
The five helicopters in peacock livery and their equipment were ferried from the team's home base at Sulur by IAF C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.
The team was to perform its signature Dolphin Leap and a new manoeuvre, the Spot Stall Turn, on 8 September 2026.
The deployment is framed as part of growing India-Egypt defence and diplomatic engagement and puts Indian aerospace capability before an international audience.
Designed and manufactures the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, the twin-engine multi-role helicopter Sarang flies; the Dhruv is used across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Operates the Sarang Helicopter Display Team as No. 151 Helicopter Unit and uses such deployments for defence diplomacy.
El Alamein lies on Egypt's Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria and is best known as the site of the decisive Second World War battles of 1942. The Sarang team flew in from Air Force Station Sulur near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, one of the IAF's Southern Air Command bases.
Defence Current Affairs > IAF units, aircraft and international engagements
General Awareness > Defence and current affairs
The Indian Air Force's helicopter aerobatic display team, No. 151 Helicopter Unit, formed in October 2003; the name means peacock in Sanskrit.
The Advanced Light Helicopter designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and flown by all four Indian armed services.
Use of military engagement such as exercises, port calls and display-team participation to build political and strategic ties with another country.