Indian Air Force (IAF) That Will Make Every Indian Proud

The Indian Air Force is one of the most formidable forces in the world. Ever since its inception, it has proved its mettle in various wartime and various rescue operations. The Indian Air Force, also known as BharatiyaVayuSena is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its key role is to keep the Indian aerospace resistant to attacks and manage aerial warfare during a conflict. Established on October 8, 1932, it then possessed a strength of 25 soldiers of which 19 were combat pilots. Ever since then, the air force has gone through extreme modernization and expansion, both in the strength of man and technology.

• With around 1,70,000 personnel and 1,500 aircraft, it is the fourth largest air force in the world after the USA, China, and Russia.
• It is also the seventh strongest Air Force in the world, better than that of Germany, Australia and Japan
• The IAF was referred to as the Royal Indian Air Force from 1945 to 1950. King George VI conferred the prefix “Royal” in 1945. In 1950, when India became a republic, the prefix was dropped.
• The IAF Roundel (logo on the planes and IAF flag) has changed four times since 1933.
• The IAF flag, adopted in 1951, is blue in color and contains the National Flag in the first quadrant and a roundel of the Tricolour.
• Its motto NabhaSparshamDeeptham is taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
• PadmavathyBandopadhyay is the first woman Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force. She was also the first woman officer to become a specialist in aviation medicine.
• A special forces unit of the Indian Air Force, the Garud Commando Force was founded in the year 2004. With 2000 personnel, it has the longest training course among all the other Indian special forces. The Garud Commando Force is renowned for its skills and rescue operations.
• Arjan Singh- The only living military officer with a 5-star rank. With the death of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh is the only living Indian military officer with a 5-star rank. His rank is now at par with that of a Field Marshal.
• The latest addition to the Air Force arsenal, Mirage 2000, French single-seated air defense and multi-purpose fighter jet, is powered by a single engine with a maximum speed of 2,495 kilometers per hour
• From October 1, 1993, to December 21, 1994, the IAF took part in peacekeeping duties in Somalia as part of the Indian contingent supporting UN operations.
• The Farkhor Airbase located in Farkhor near Tajikistan is India’s first and only military base outside the country.
• The IAF engaged in conflict outside the country in 1960 when Belgium’s 75-year rule over Congo ended abruptly.
• The IAF destroyed more than 29 Pakistani tanks, 40 APCs and a railway train during the Battle of Longewala in the 1971 Indo-Pak War besides a number of critical installations.
• At 22,000 ft (or 6,706 m), Siachen Glacier AFS is the highest Air Force Station of the IAF.
• The IAF created a world record by performing the highest landing of a C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldie airstrip in Ladakh at the height of 16614 feet (5065 meters).
• The Air Force has over 60 air bases spread all over India. With 16 air bases, the Western Air Command is the largest Air Command.
• The SEPECAT Jaguar and the Mikoyan MiG-27 serve as the IAF’s primary ground attack force.
• IAF’s first HAL-made fighter was HF-24 Marut.It was designed by the famed German aerospace engineer Kurt Tank and operated from 1961 to 1985.
• The Tejas is the second supersonic Light Combat Aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• IAF transport aircraft airlifted hundreds of Indian troops to secure the Siachen glacier during 1984 Operation Meghdoot.
• The IAF is the only air force that operates C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules, and Il-76 – the three largest transport aircraft.
• The IAF manages Air Force Network (AFNet)Air Force Network is a state-of-the-art, fully secure and reliable network (Intranet) and gigabyte digital information grid.
• Operation Rahat was the biggest civilian rescue operation in the world carried out by any air force using helicopters. the Indian Air Force made a world record in aviation by airlifting almost 20,000 civilians.
• Flying officer NirmalJit Singh Sekhon was awarded the Param Veer Chakra.till date, the only member of the Indian Air Force to have been awarded the ParamVir Chakra for his exemplary display of courage during the Indo-Pak war of 1971.