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The coastal waters off Shanghumughom Beach in Thiruvananthapuram transformed into a vibrant theatre of naval power on Wednesday as the Indian Navy staged a high-tempo Operational Demonstration (Op Demo) to mark this year’s Navy Day celebrations. Thousands of spectators gathered along the shoreline to watch frontline warships, aircraft and special forces execute complex manoeuvres just metres from the coast.
The centrepiece of the display was India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, which anchored the Navy’s Carrier Battle Group presence during the event. The carrier’s flight deck came alive as a MiG-29K fighter of the ‘Black Panthers’ squadron roared into the sky, a visual reminder of the striking power India had projected during Operation Sindoor, when the Navy’s carrier group bottled up Pakistani naval assets along the Makran coast.
Precision, Power and Public Outreach
The demonstration formally began after the arrival of President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Three MH-60R Seahawks swept in low from the sea, releasing flares before dipping their noses in salute – a rare public glimpse of the Navy’s newest multi-mission helicopters. Moments later, four Dornier maritime patrol aircraft executed an impressive ‘bomb-burst’ formation over the waterfront.
A procession of frontline platforms followed: destroyers, frigates, fast-attack craft and the submarine INS Shishumar, which drew loud cheers as it surfaced and sailed past-a rare sight in Thiruvananthapuram. Sea King helicopters, Chetak utility helicopters, P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) added tempo to the aerial displays.
The MiG-29K returned to perform a dramatic low overshoot over INS Vikrant’s deck. The Hawks showcased precision formation flying, while missile boats of the 1241 RE class simulated a missile attack, demonstrating the Navy’s coastal strike capabilities.
Special Forces and Seamanship Traditions
One of the most riveting segments featured the Navy’s elite MARCOS (Marine Commandos), who executed a helicopter-borne insertion and extraction operation close to the beach. Demolition teams demonstrated Small Team Insertion and Extraction (STIE) drills used for sabotage missions against enemy infrastructure.
Traditional naval seamanship also found space in the high-tech display, with sail training ships INS Tarangini and INS Sudarshini gliding past the main dais. Their presence underscored the Navy’s blend of modern capability and maritime heritage.
‘A Navy for the Nation’ – Leaders Underscore Modernisation and Maritime Legacy
In her address, President Murmu applauded the Navy’s practice of taking Navy Day events to coastal cities across India. “It is a welcome step to provide opportunities to citizens in various parts of the country to witness our Navy’s excellence,” she said. She emphasised that modernisation and indigenous capability development are critical to sustaining combat readiness, noting that the Navy has demonstrated the capacity to design and build complex platforms in India.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi highlighted the significance of December 4, which commemorates the daring naval strike on Karachi Harbour during the 1971 war. Since 2023, Navy Day celebrations have been moved out of Delhi to reconnect with “places of maritime prominence and naval legacy.” Kerala, he said, was especially fitting as “its shores have spoken to the world for many centuries.”
Quoting K.M. Panikkar’s vision of building a maritime consciousness among citizens, Admiral Tripathi said the Op Demo aims to “create a Naval tradition in the public… and provide a glimpse into the discipline, precision and teamwork that allow us to succeed at sea.”
International Observers Impressed
Foreign defence attachés and military advisers were flown in from New Delhi for the event, reflecting rising international interest in India’s naval capabilities. Among them, Italian Defence Attaché Captain Armando Paolo Simi praised the complexity and professionalism on display. “The Indian Navy has put up a top-notch operational demonstration. Such a show is not possible without intense and rigorous training. All credit goes to the personnel and their professionalism,” he told BharatShakti at the venue.
A Spectacle Beyond Combat
The evening concluded with cultural and ceremonial elements, the Hornpipe Dance by Sea Cadet Corps children, a performance by the Southern Naval Command band, a continuity drill, ship illumination at sea, fireworks, and the traditional Beating Retreat, rounding off an event that blended operational prowess with naval pageantry.
With INS Vikrant’s silhouette fading into the twilight and crowds still cheering from the beach, this year’s Navy Day Op Demo stood out not merely as a display of power but as a reminder of India’s growing maritime ambitions and the Navy’s push to bring its capabilities closer to the public.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
