Russian-make tank salutes US President Barack Obama during Republic Day celebration

NEW DELHI: It's not always that a Russian tank points its barrel at the US President. On Monday, a fleet of three T-90S tanks lowered their turrets in salute to the VVIP enclosure, where chief guest Barack Obama was sitting.

This is probably the first time that Obama, the first US President at the January 26 celebrations, saw such a display of Russian-origin weaponry.

The VVIPs, led by President Pranab Mukherjee, were greeted with a shower of petals from three recently-inducted Mi-17 V5 helicopters.

The IAF display was followed by a column of T-90S Bhishma tanks, which have been newly fitted with laser rangefinders and missile-tracking systems.

Once the tanks reached the podium, they raised their 125mm guns and then lowered them as the customary tank salute.

The American dignitaries may have heard of Brahmos missiles, got a first-hand glimpse of the supersonic cruise missiles when they were displayed with their indigenous radar tracking systems.