DUNDIGAL / HYDERABAD: Marking a major milestone in India’s joint military training architecture, the Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal is set to host the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) for the 217 Course on June 13, 2026.
Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will serve as the Reviewing Officer (RO) for the event, where he will officially confer the ‘President’s Commission’ upon graduating Flight Cadets who have successfully completed their rigorous pre-commissioning training cycles.
Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) Profile
Academy Venue: Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad
Graduating Cohort: 217 Course Flight Cadets
Reviewing Officer: Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
Historical First: Commissioning of the debut batch of women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune.
Joint Training Trainees: Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
A Historic First for Women in the Armed Forces
This edition of the CGP stands as a landmark event for gender integration within India’s armed forces. The parade will officially commission the very first batch of women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune.
After creating history by passing out of the premier tri-services academy on May 30, 2025, these women officers moved to AFA Dundigal for their branch-specific, advanced flight and ground duty training phases. Their commissioning into the operational folds of the Indian Air Force marks a significant shift in the frontline leadership structure of the military.
The ceremony will also highlight India’s growing role in international strategic partnerships. Alongside cadets from the IAF, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard, officers from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will receive their official ‘Wings’ and ‘Brevets’ upon finishing their specialized aviation programs.
Precision Airpower Displays and Flypasts
The morning ceremony will begin with an immaculate show of military discipline from the Akash Ganga skydiving team and the Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT).
The main parade will feature synchronized flypasts led directly by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. The aerial review will showcase the progression of military pilot training, featuring four distinct trainer lines:
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Primary & Intermediate Stages: Pilatus PC-7 MkII, Kiran, and weapon-capable Hawk advanced jet trainers.
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Rotary Wing Stage: Chetak utility helicopters.
The parade will conclude with high-G aerial maneuvers from frontline SU-30 MKI air superiority fighters, followed by precision tactical formations by the Sarang helicopter display team and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT).
For the public, the entire event will be broadcast live across all official Indian Air Force social media handles and on DD National, with live coverage beginning at 0700 hours on June 13, 2026.
