The children cheered, waving their flags and noisemakers as the Singapore Armed Forces’s parachute team – popularly known as the Red Lions – made their descent to the Padang.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the team, which made its debut at the 1989 National Day Parade.
Also popular was the Total Defence Dynamic Defence Display, with 2024 marking the 40th anniversary of the national defence campaign.
Scores of pupils could be seen holding up their mobile phones during the segment, which featured appearances by the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16s and the Singapore Army’s Leopard 2SG main battle tank.
This year’s display includes 40 assets and more than 400 participants from the RSAF, Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy and the Digital and Intelligence Service, in addition to the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, national water agency PUB and the Singapore Red Cross.
It is the first to feature a coordinated demonstration across both the Padang and Marina Bay.
Later in the evening, the crowd roared along to the chorus of Hold Up The Sky – one of three original songs written for the 2024 parade – which was performed by singer Amni Musfirah, who is making her NDP debut this year.
Screams greeted local artiste Benjamin Kheng as he made his appearance on the Padang to perform the 2024 NDP theme song, Not Alone.