No. 45 Squadron IAF

No. 45 Squadron
No.45 squadron patch
Active 1957 - Present.
Country India Republic of India
Branch  Indian Air Force
Role Air superiority
Precision Strike
Combat air patrol
Garrison/HQ Sulur AFS, Tamil Nadu[1]
Nickname(s) Flying Daggers
Motto(s) Ajithalakshya
Invincibility Our Mission
Commanders
Current
commander		 Group Captain Samrath Dhankhar[2]
Aircraft flown
Attack HAL Tejas

No. 45 Squadron Indian Air Force (Flying Daggers) is a Fighter Squadron internally based at Sulur AFS, Tamil Nadu[1]. The squadron operates the indigenous HAL Tejas fighter from 1 July 2016.[3]. The squadron was initially based at Bangalore, Karnataka and later shifted to its main base in Sulur from 1 June, 2018.[1]

History

The squadron was raised on 15 February 1957,[4] with de Havilland Vampires, as a Ground-Attack and Close Air Support unit. Later The Vampires were replaced by MiG-21Bison. The MiGs which were operated from Naliya were withdrawn from squadron service in 2002. It is the first operational squadron of the indigenous fighter jet HAL Tejas.[3] The squadron will operate from Yelahanka Air Base, Bangalore for nearly two years before it moves to its designated locations at Sulur near Coimbatore.[5] It is also the first fighter squadron to be part of the Southern Air Command of IAF headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram.

Indo-Pakistan War of 1965

On 1 September 1965, during the Indo-Pakistani War, No. 45 Squadron IAF responded to a request for strikes against a counter-attack by the Pakistani Army (Operation Grand Slam), and twelve Vampire Mk 52 fighter-bombers were successful in slowing the Pakistani advance. However, the Vampires encountered two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-86 Sabres, armed with air-to-air missiles; in the ensuing dogfight, the outdated Vampires were outclassed. One was shot down by ground fire and another three were shot down by Sabres.[6][7] The Vampires were withdrawn from front line service after these losses.

Atlantique incident

Indian Airforce No.45 Squadron was involved in the Atlantique incident on 10 August 1999. Two MiG-21 Bison from No.45 Squadron IAF intercepted and shot down a Pakistan Air Force naval reconnaissance plane.[8][9]

Assignments

Aircraft

Aircraft types operated by the squadron[10]

Aircraft TypeFromToAir Base
de Havilland VampireJune 1957N/A
Mig-21N/A2002Naliya AFS[11]
HAL TejasJuly 2016Till DateSulur AFS[11]

As of 1 June 2018, the squadron had 9 Tejas aircraft in service.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tejas exits Bengaluru, new nest in TN's Sulur". 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "IAF, HAL end impasse over Tejas trainers". ManormaOnline. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 "HAL Tejas supersonic fighter jets inducted into Indian Air Force". The Times of India. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "History of IAF". IAF.
  5. ↑ "IAF begins establishing first LCA squadron." Deccan Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2016. Archived 20 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Pakistani Air-to-Air Victories, Air Combat Information Group, 2003, retrieved 10 June 2009 .
  7. ↑ (Retd), Air Marshal Trilochan Singh PVSM AVSM VrC VM. "Tank Busting In The Chamb - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.
  8. ↑ "The Atlantique Incident". 1999 Kargil Operations. Bharat Rakshak Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  9. ↑ IAF Scores a Kill !!! Factual Account of Interception Archived 22 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. – Indian Air Force official page Retrieved on 26 July 2007
  10. ↑ Pillarisetti, Jagan. "No.7 Squadron - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.
  11. 1 2 "Tejas squadron to be shifted to Sulur air base in July". 20 June 2018.


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