Rafael Inducted In 17th Squadron Of ‘Golden Arrows’

Rafael inducted in 17th Squadron of ‘Golden Arrows’, know- about it. Another new chapter was added to the golden history of the Indian Air Force. One of the world’s finest fighter aircraft, Rafael arrived in Ambala on Wednesday. In the first batch, 5 Rafale aircraft have arrived in India.

This 4.5 generation aircraft is at the forefront of its generation aircraft, which has shown its battle skills in Libya and elsewhere. Ambala has the 17th Squadron of the Air Force, also known as the Golden Arrows. It will be the first Rafael inducted squadron of IAF.

Let’s know about the 17th Squadron of the Air Force and Ambala Airbase, whose name is taken with great respect in the history of the Indian Air Force. The 17th Squadron of the Air Force came into existence in 1951. Which included the Heavy Vampire FK 52 fighter aircraft.

It is a squadron of the Indian Air Force stationed at Ambala. It is an operational command under Western Air Command.

The squadron was awarded the Presidential Standard on 8 November 1988. This honor is given to an Air Force unit or squadron for exceptional service during war or peace. This squadron carries forward the legacy of deploying and operating the best fighter aircraft of its time. From 1957 to 1975, it was home to Hawker Hunter aircraft for nearly two decades.

The squadron operated the Soviet Union-built MiG-21 from Bathinda Airbase for nearly four decades (1975 to 2016). The squadron disintegrated after the Russian MiG-21 aircraft were phased out of the Indian Air Force. Command of the most skilled pilots: The squadron has also had a glorious past in the hands of the most skilled fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force.

The squadron was commanded by former Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa during the 1999 Kargil War. Marshal of the Airforce Arjan Singh and even the country’s first Air Chief Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee have commanded Ambala Air Base as Group Captains.

Glorious History of Ambala Air Base: Ambala Air Base is strategically extremely important. This airbase is just 220 km from the India-Pakistan border. It also has the distinction of being the oldest airbase, which is nearly a century old. Here in 1919, the 99th Squadron of the Royal Air Force came into existence.

Until 1922 it served as the headquarters of the Indian Command of the Royal Airforce. Ambala Air Force Base also came under the heavy bombardment of Pakistani fighter jets during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and 1971. Also served as a flying instructor school from 1948 to 1954.

Many successful operations from Ambala Airbase: Many successful operations have been run from Ambala Airbase. Played a key role under Operation White Sea during the 1999 Kargil War and Operation Parakram during the India Pakistan military tensions of 2001–2002.

During the Kargil war, fighter jets made 234 flights from here due to attacks on enemies and other reasons. Many of these operations were carried out at night. According to media reports, Mirage planes also flew from Ambala airbase to destroy terrorist targets in Balakot, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The base is currently the base for two squadrons of Jaguar aircraft.