Cars, fighter planes at Republic Day ’26 parade: Range Rover Sentinel, Su-30 MKI & more
The Republic Day 2026 parade in New Delhi put the spotlight on India’s military strength and cultural pride. Along with the marching troops and defence equipment, several specialised vehicles and Indian Air Force aircraft were also seen at the Kartavya Path. Here’s a quick look at some of the notable vehicles and fighter jets spotted during this year’s Republic Day celebrations.
PM Modi’s car: Range Rover Sentinel
One of the most notable vehicles at the parade was the Range Rover Sentinel, which was used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Sentinel is a heavily armoured version of the standard Range Rover.It comes with VR8-level ballistic protection, meaning it can withstand 7.62 mm armour-piercing bullets. In terms of blast protection, the vehicle is designed to survive lateral explosions of up to 15 kg of TNT, along with grenade blasts from both above and below the chassis. The Sentinel is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, producing 380 hp. Even with a kerb weight crossing 4.4 tonnes, it can sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in about 10.4 seconds, with a top speed of 193 kmph.
Toyota Fortuner , Tata Harrier and Mahindra Scorpio Classic
Apart from the Sentinel, several familiar SUVs were seen as part of the PM’s convoy. These included the Toyota Fortuner, Tata Harrier, and Mahindra Scorpio Classic. While these models are available to the public in civilian form, the versions used by security forces are typically reworked with additional communication equipment, protection elements and mission-specific modifications.
The Toyota Fortuner, which was also seen in a jammer configuration, is powered in its public-spec form by a 2.8-litre diesel engine that produces 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque.The Tata Harrier uses a 2.0-litre diesel engine, producing 170 hp and 350 Nm. It was recently also launched in its turbo-petrol avatar, producing 170 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The Mahindra Scorpio Classic, on the other hand, is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine generating 130 hp and 300 Nm. Besides these, Force Gurkha and more tactical hardware were also part of the parade. The Force Gurkha Light Strike Vehicle is a 4×4 vehicle built for military use. Based on the Gurkha platform, it is powered by a 2.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing around 140 hp and 320 Nm, and comes with high ground clearance and locking differentials.
The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy remains one of the most recognisable vehicles associated with Republic Day parades. While the Army is gradually phasing out the Gypsy in favour of newer vehicles, it continues to make appearances on special occasions, including the Republic Day 2026 parade. The Army-spec Maruti Gypsy is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine that produces 80bhp and 103 Nm of torque. The SUV comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4WD system.
IAF flypast steals the show
The Indian Air Force’s flypast, conducted under Operation Sindoor, featured a combination of frontline fighters that represent the core of India’s combat aviation strength.
The Rafale fighter jets were also a part of the formation. Powered by twin Snecma M88 engines, each producing about 50 kN of thrust, the Rafale is capable of speeds beyond Mach 1.8 and is equipped for air superiority, ground attack and reconnaissance missions.
Sukhoi Su30-MKI
Flying alongside were the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, the backbone of the IAF. This twin-engine fighter uses AL-31FP afterburning turbofan engines, giving it exceptional manoeuvrability and a top speed exceeding Mach 2. Its ability is to carry a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
The formation also featured the MiG-29, a twin-engine air superiority fighter powered by RD-33 turbofan engines. Each engine generates around 81 kN of thrust with afterburner, allowing the jet to reach speeds of up to Mach 2.25. Alongside it was the SEPECAT Jaguar. It is powered by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour engines, each producing about 32.5 kN of thrust. The Jaguar is optimised for low-level penetration missions and has a top speed of around Mach 1.6.
