Indian Air Force - Loktej English

IAF invites 12 countries for exercise 'Tarang Shakti' to be held in Jodhpur

Loktej English Team — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 18:37:06 +0530

Jodhpur, 23 June (HS): Indian Air Force is going to organise multilateral air exercise for the first time in Jodhpur in the first week of August. In this exercise named 'Tarang Shakti', brave fighter bombers and strategic lift aircraft of 12 air forces of the world will be involved.

According to Air Service sources, this two-phase exercise will start from the airbase of South India. After this, exercise will be held in Jodhpur from mid-August to mid-September. Twelve countries including Spain and UAE have been called in the exercise. Apart from the Quad countries USA, Japan and Australia, fighter jets of Europe's three biggest air forces Britain, France and Germany will also take part in the exercise.

This exercise will be at the level of America's 'Red Flag War Game', in which NATO countries participate. The Red Flag War game took place in June, 2023. India also had a stake in this and had taken its Rafale fighter aircraft. Russia will not participate in this multilateral war exercise.

Indian Air Force Key in Lok Sabha Elections Logistics

Loktej English Team — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:20:32 +0530

New Delhi : The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a vital role in the logistical support during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Known for its multifaceted operations in both war and peace times, the IAF deployed its transport and helicopter fleet to facilitate the movement of administrative machinery throughout the election period.

The IAF's medium lift helicopters (MI-17 variants), light utility helicopters (Chetak), and indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv were extensively used to transport polling parties and equipment to remote locations and back. This deployment was critical in areas where road access was a security concern, ensuring election personnel and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) reached their destinations on time.

In addition to its peacetime and combat roles, the IAF has consistently supported civil operations. During the Lok Sabha elections, the IAF conducted over 1,750 sorties, flying more than 1,000 hours across five of the seven election phases. This massive logistical task was carried out in close coordination with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioners (CECs) of various states. Nodal officers were appointed to optimize the use of IAF assets, considering factors such as security, weather, and road connectivity.

Helicopter assets from the Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) were also integrated into the overall plan to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections. The collaborative effort between the IAF and other agencies underscored the importance of air support in reaching remote and inaccessible areas, thereby playing a crucial role in the successful execution of the Lok Sabha elections.

President Draupadi Murmu awards highest military honors to four Air Force units

Loktej English Team — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 20:09:08 +0530

Ghaziabad, 08 March : In a historic moment for the Indian Air Force, President Draupadi Murmu conferred the 'President's Standard and Colours' award on four units, marking the first time in history that four Air Force units have been simultaneously honored with these prestigious awards. The President's Standard and Colours Award stand as the highest military honor for any armed forces unit, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the Indian Air Force's legacy.

President Draupadi Murmu arrived at Hindon Air Force Station, where the Air Force personnel paraded and saluted her in a ceremony that honored the exceptional achievements of these units.

The ceremony, held at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, saw 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron receiving the 'President's Standard', while 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal Unit were awarded the 'President's Colours'.

The 45 Squadron, also known as 'Flying Daggers', was established in 1959 and played a crucial role in 'Operation Vijay' for the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule in 1960. The 221 Squadron, known as 'Valiants', was established on 14 February 1963 at Barrackpur with Vampire aircraft and was deployed in the Eastern Sector during the India-Pakistan War of 1965, where it made significant contributions.

Air Chief Marshal BR Chaudhary, Union Minister of State General VK Singh, Jatin Prasad, Group Captain M Surendran, Group Captain Subhankan, Air Officer Commanding Ashutosh Vaidya, and Commanding Officer Group Captain Vivek Sharma were present at the ceremony representing the four honored units.