India is participating in the second edition of the El Alamein International Airshow 2026, hosted by Egypt from September 8 to 10, through the Indian aerobatic team “Sarang,” which arrived in Egypt to take part in the event with five locally manufactured “Dhruv” helicopters.
India’s participation gives rotary-wing aviation a notable presence at one of the region’s prominent aviation gatherings. The “Sarang” team operates the “Advanced Light Helicopter – ALH Dhruv,” developed and manufactured by India, using the helicopters to perform precise aerial displays featuring maneuvers and coordinated formations before participants and visitors.
According to India’s Ministry of Defence, “Sarang” is the only aerobatic team in the world to perform its displays using five helicopters. This makes its participation at El Alamein more than simply an aerial show, as it places one of India’s leading indigenous aviation platforms before an international audience of aviation and defense professionals.
“Dhruv”: Indian-made aviation over El Alamein
The “Sarang” team’s participation centers on the Indian “Dhruv” helicopter, a light, multi-purpose platform developed and manufactured by India and operated by the Indian armed forces for a range of missions.
During “Sarang” displays, however, the platform takes on a different role, becoming part of an aerial performance that relies heavily on pilot precision, coordination between the helicopters, and the ability to maintain precise distances and formations throughout the maneuvers.
The team’s performances are known for close-proximity aerial maneuvers and coordinated group formations, highlighting the pilots’ level of training and their ability to control the helicopters under conditions requiring a high degree of precision and coordination.
A presence that goes beyond an aerial display
“Sarang’s” appearance at El Alamein comes at a time when India is seeking to showcase its growing capabilities in the domestic aerospace industry. However, its current participation does not necessarily indicate the existence of any specific defense deal or agreement linked to the airshow.
The more significant aspect of this participation is the presentation of an aviation platform developed domestically by India before an international community that includes air forces, aviation and defense companies, and industry professionals, alongside aerobatic teams from various countries.
In this respect, India’s presence at El Alamein offers a different model from participation centered on fighter jets or heavy combat aircraft. India has chosen its indigenous “Dhruv” helicopter as the centerpiece of its aerial presence, using it to demonstrate the level of development reached by the country’s aviation industry, alongside the skills of its pilots.
The presence of “Sarang” at the El Alamein International Airshow reflects the expanding international participation in the Egyptian event, which brings together aircraft, aerial systems and aerobatic teams from several countries, placing India’s aviation industry within the international aviation landscape hosted by Egypt in the event’s second edition.
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