Surya Kiran

Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT)
Surya Kiran seal
Active27 May 199630 June 2011
15 February 2015present
CountryIndia
BranchIndian Air Force
RoleAerobatic display
Part ofNo. 52 Squadron, IAF
Garrison/HQBidar Air Force Station
Nickname(s)The Sharks
Motto(s)सदैव सर्वोत्तम - Sadaiva Sarvōttama
(Sanskrit: "Always the Best")
Colorsday-glo orange and white
  
DecorationsChief of Air Staff Unit Citation
Commanders
Current
commander
Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi
Aircraft flown
Trainer

Surya Kiran (transl.Rays of the Sun) is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and is a part of the No. 52 Squadron of the Indian Air Force. The team is based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka and has performed numerous demonstrations. The squadron was initially composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with BAE Hawk Mk.132 aircraft in 2015.