Saturday, January 22 2005 19:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: No new armaments will be on display during this year's Republic Day Parade unlike the past few years though the showcasing of the country's military might will be unaffected by curtailment of time of the event by 45 minutes.

The only new military equipment to be unveiled this time will be Danish-made Hydrema Demining Vehicle and Mat Grnd Surface CL-70 which can lay tracks on the most difficult terrains in minutes.

In the last few years, the Republic Day Parade has been the occasion to bring before the public the Agni and Prithvi range of missiles, the Arjun and T-90 tanks, the Sukhoi-30 fighter jet and mid-air refuelling by the IL-78 aircraft.

Most of these armaments will be on display this time as well along with the Brahmos and Pinaka missiles of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Air Force will also showcase 25 aircraft including Sukhoi-30s, Jaguars and MiG-17s. Like last year, the IL-78 will perform a refuelling exercise over Rajpath while the Su-30 promises to dazzle the audience with "vertical charlie loop."

Briefing newspersons here today, General Officer Commanding of Delhi area Maj Gen Thomas Mathew, who will lead the parade, said the event this year will last about one hour 38 minutes as against two hours 10 minutes earlier.

While the shorter duration will mean a reduction in the number of tableaux in the cultural pageant and participation of less school children, the firepower display will remain almost unaffected.

"The only change for the Army is that it will display three tanks instead of six," Mathew said.

Asked whether the Tsunami-disaster had anything to do with the reduction in duration, he replied in the negative saying it was done to "sustain viewer interest."

Mathew said a large number of contingents from the Armed forces, police, para-military forces, ex-servicemen and National Cadet Corps (NCC) will form part of the marching contingent.

While President A P J Abdul Kalam will take the salute, the King of Vhutan Jigme Singhe Wanchuk will be the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Seven serving and retired Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardees will also be part of the mounted columns, Mathew said.

The participation of a cavalry column, a motorcycle display and the National Bravery Award winning children on elephants will add to the show.

Mathew said because of the curtailment of the parade, the number of tableaux presented by States and Government departments will come down to 22 from 28 last year while only eight items by school children will be on display as against 12 in 2004.

The 15-ton Hydrema Demining Vehicle (HDV), to be presented for the first time, can clear a 3.5-metre wide path of mines weighing upto 10 kilogrammes.

The Mat Grnd Surface Class-70, also a first-timer in the parade, can lay 50 metres of aluminium track on almost any kind of terrain within 20 minutes. Even tanks can roll down these tracks without harming them.