Page 19 - Indian Air Force

Air Chief Marshal unveils new ensign of IAF at Air Force Day parade

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Sunday unveiled a new ensign of the Indian Air Force (IAF), replacing the existing one that was adopted more than seven decades back. The IAF Chief released the new ensign at the 91st IAF Day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. In the new ensign, the IAF crest features in the top right corner. It is a momentous day in the annals of the IAF's history, the force said on 'X'. The unveiling of the new ensign by the IAF came over a year after the Navy made changes in its ensign shedding its colonial past. The existing ensign was adopted in 1950, replacing the Royal Indian Air Force ensign that featured the Union Jack and the RIAF roundel (red, white and blue). "As we start a new chapter in the history of IAF, let us all strive to be the change that we want to see," Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said in his Air Force Day address. "Let us work together to take our air force to greater heights and let us use our commitment and ..

Need to enhance capabilities in view of dynamic environment: IAF chief

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Sunday called on his force to refine its strategy, enhance all-round capabilities and develop a flexible mindset to "prosecute" possible future wars, considering the current "complex" and "dynamic" strategic environment. In an address to air warriors on the occasion of the Air Force Day, the Chief of Air Staff said the current geopolitical landscape has provided the force an opportunity to reduce dependency on imports by developing indigenous capability. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari also underlined the need for understanding the nuances of evolving air power, "setting the pace to preserve peace and if and when necessary, to fight and win wars." He said the world is changing at a rapid pace and the IAF must meet all new challenges coming its way. "In this complex and dynamic strategic environment, refining our strategy, building robust all round capabilities and more importantly, developing a flexible mind-set to prosecute future wars will prove ...

PM Modi extends greetings to air warriors on IAF's 91st foundation day

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari arrived on Sunday morning at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj to participate in the Air Force Day celebrations

Shah, Rajnath Singh, and CM Yogi extend greetings to IAF on foundation day

Indian Air Force on Sunday morning started the 91st-anniversary celebration with a ceremonial parade at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj

IAF celebrates 91 Foundation Day at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj

Air Force Day marks the official induction of the Indian Air Force (IAF) into the country's armed forces in 1932

Sikkim flash floods: Over 3,000 tourists stranded in Lachen, Lachung

More than 3,000 tourists are stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district of Sikkim after flash flood hit the area and cut off all road communications are safe on Saturday, officials said. The Indian Air Force made multiple attempts to carry out rescue and relief operations by Mi-17 helicopters but was unable to fly from Bagdogra as well as Chaten due to the inclement weather, low-lying cloud cover and low visibility conditions in the Lachen and Lachung valley, they said. The roads to Lachen and Lachung are damaged. An alternative route to Chungthang via Dzongu is in the process of being opened for the rescue teams to move forward. Teesta Urja has also provided a chopper for the rescue of tourists and the supply of essential commodities to the Chungtang area. An ITBP team that reached the area is carrying out relief and rescue in Chungthang at the moment, officials said. The India Meteorological Department in a weather forecast with respect to Mangan district said light to ..

All measures in place to counter drone threat, any eventuality: IAF

The Indian Air Force has put all measures in place to counter the threat of drones from across the Indo-Pak border in Jammu, a senior IAF official said, adding that it is prepared for all eventualities. The official added that most operations undertaken by IAF in the region have been successful. "See we are prepared for any eventuality and all measures are in place," Air Officer Commanding (AoC) Jammu, Air Commodore S S Rawat told reporters here to a question on drone threats. On being asked about the success rate of IAF's surveillance operations, Rawat said most of the operations are successful. The IAF is deployed for such operations in coordination with the Army, Rawat added. On the flash floods in Sikkim floods, the AoC said security forces and the administration are doing their best. "Whatever is possible is being done. We have sympathies with them, he said. Another official added that the IAF personnel are trained for such rescue and relief operations. AoC is empowered to ..

HAL hands over first LCA Tejas twin-seater aircraft to Indian Air Force

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Wednesday handed over the first LCA Tejas twin seater aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The Bengaluru-headquartered company said the twin seater variant has all the capabilities to support the training requirements of the IAF and augments itself to the role of fighter as well in case of necessity. Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt was the chief guest during the function wherein the unveiling of the LCA twin seater, handing over of Release to Service (RSD), Signalling out Certificate (SOC) were conducted in the presence of Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, among others. The LCA Tejas twin seater is a light weight, all weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft. It is an amalgamation of contemporary concepts and technologies, such as relaxed static-stability, quadraplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree maneuvering, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite materials for the ..

Indian Air Force to procure weapons worth Rs 2.5-3 trn in next 7-8 years

Chaudhari said the IAF was constantly monitoring the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), especially in eastern Ladakh

Countering China's number advantage by better tactics: IAF chief Chaudhari

The IAF Chief pointed out that owing to the volatile and uncertain geopolitical landscape in the region, "the need to have a strong and credible military has become imperative"

IAF to procure additional batch of 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets: Air Chief

The Indian Air Force is in the process of finalising a Rs 1.15 lakh crore deal to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft besides upgrading 84 Sukhoi-30MKI jets at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Tuesday. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With the additional 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets, the total number of indigenously-developed aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180. Addressing a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8, the Chief of Air Staff also said that 84 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets will be upgraded at a cost of a little over Rs 60,000 crore. The defence ministry is also looking at signing a contract with the HAL next year to procure a total of 156 light combat helicopters (LCH) out of which 66 will be for the IAF. The IAF now operates 1

Over 100 aircrafts to be part of air show in Prayagraj: Air Marshal Kapoor

Over 100 aircrafts, including the Rafale fighter jets, will be part of an air show to be held here next week to commemorate the completion of 91st year of the IAF, Air Marshal RGK Kapoor said on Monday. Kapoor, who is Air Marshal, headquarters, Central Air Command, reached the Sangam area here on Monday with a cycle rally to spread awareness about the air show to be held on October 8. This year the Air Force is completing the 91st year of its establishment, to commemorate which an air show is being organised here on October 8 in the Sangam area, Kapoor told reporters. Earlier our air show used to be held in Hindon (Ghaziabad) where only people from Delhi and its surrounding areas could see this air show. But this time we are organising it in Prayagraj. Since the Sangam confluence area is very large, a large number of people will be able to enjoy the air show here, he said. Kapoor said Prayagraj was chosen for the event for several reasons, including the presence of the Central Air

IAF to buy 156 light combat choppers for deployment along China, Pak border

The IAF is also buying a significant number of these choppers to keep the machines ready for export requirements and sale to friendly foreign countries

Happy for C-295, Spain would like to be trusted partner for India: Envoy

Spanish envoy Jose Maria Ridao on Monday expressed delight over the arrival of the first C-295 military transport aircraft to India from Spain and asserted that Madrid would like to be a "very trusted bilateral partner" for New Delhi. The aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in a ceremony at the Hindan Air Force Station on Monday. Ridao attended the ceremony, which took place in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and senior officials of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and those from Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL). The medium tactical transport aircraft arrived in Vadodara on September 20, days after it was handed over to the IAF in the southern Spanish city of Seville, where Airbus has a facility. "The first plane (C-295) coming from Spain in this programme, and we are very happy, and at the same time, we are very engaged with this programme we think that it is a great opportunity to become an important partner for India i

Govt formulating joint military doctrines to enhance forces' coordination

India is in the process of formulating joint military doctrines in sync with its efforts to enhance synergy among the three services and other key wings of the defence establishment to effectively deal with future security challenges, officials said on Monday. The defence ministry has already been working on an ambitious plan on theaterisation process to ensure jointness among the three services. Various aspects relating to the joint doctrines were brainstormed at a conference on September 22. "This historic, first such, conference was aimed to synergise and bridge gaps in understanding between headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and the three services in the formulation of doctrines, as also review the progress of joint doctrines being formulated," the defence ministry said. It also helped in sharing best practices and ongoing initiatives on doctrinal issues, it said in a brief statement on Monday. The 'joint doctrine review' conference was chaired by Air Marshal Jeete

C-295 aircraft induction heralds new era for Air Force: Ex-IAF chief

The induction of C-295 aircraft "heralds a new era for the Air Force" and this fleet will in times to come become the backbone of the force's tactical lift capability, former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal (retd) RKS Bhadauria said on Monday. The first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier in the day. The induction ceremony took place at the Hindan airbase here. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari was also present on the occasion. Former IAF chief Bhadauria said this aircraft is "state-of-the-art" and "hugely capable". "It's a great day for the IAF as it was one of the very critical requirement to replace the Avro fleet. And, from that perspective, this induction ceremony is heralding a new era for the Air Force in terms of the tactical airlift capability," he told PTI at Hindan airbase. This fleet will in times to come become the "backbone of tactical lift capability," Bhadauria

First C-295 aircraft inducted into IAF, boosting its logistics capabilities

The first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force on Monday, boosting its logistics capabilities. The induction ceremony took place at the Hindan Air Force Station here in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari along with senior officials of the IAF as well as of Airbus attended the induction ceremony. Singh later took part in a 'Sarva Dharma Pooja' that was performed in the hangar to mark the induction.

IAF considering induction of six additional Netra early-warning aircraft

The Netra Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&CS) aircraft is a multi-sensor platform developed by DRDO in collaboration with the laboratory under it - the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS)

Flight to self-sufficiency

IAF orders are increasing domestic production

Heavy rains in MP: Will call Army if required for flood relief ops, says CM

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said the Army and Air Force will be called in if required for flood relief operations amid heavy rains in the state. He held a virtual meeting with his officials at 1:30am and gave instructions to deal with the situation. Chouhan said he reviewed the situation caused by heavy rains in Khargone, Barwani, Dhar, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Alirajpur and Indore and spoke to officials of these districts. The situation is under control but the people are on alert and the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) and NDRF are working in these areas, while the flow in water bodies as well as rain has reduced, he said. "The water has started receding in the affected areas. Our efforts are to keep the people safe. If required, the army and Air Force would also be called in," Chouhan said.