Indian Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team to Perform at LIMA 2025 Airshow in Malaysia

For the first time, the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) will perform at LIMA 2025, Malaysia’s premier airshow and one of Asia’s largest aerospace events.

They will share the skies with other elite teams, including the Russian Knights flying the Su-35 and the Indonesian Jupiter Aerobatic Team flying the KT-1B.

Formed in 1996 and based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka, Surya Kiran is the IAF’s flagship aerobatic squadron.

Flying nine striking BAE Hawk Mk.132 jets in bright orange and white, the team is known for its precise close-formation flying and vibrant tricolor smoke trails. As Asia’s only nine-aircraft aerobatic team, they are a symbol of the Indian Air Force’s discipline and skill.

Pilots are selected for their experience flying frontline IAF jets such as the Mirage, Su-30, and Jaguar, and serve a three-year tenure with the team.

Training takes place from September to March, focusing on complex maneuvers like loops, barrel rolls, inverted flight, and their signature “DNA” formation.

Surya Kiran has performed over 700 displays in more than 72 cities across India and represented the nation at airshows in countries including China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, and the UAE.

Recent highlights include performances at the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad (November 2023) and the Indian Air Force’s 92nd anniversary in Chennai (October 2024).