Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force (?????? ???? ???? : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Military of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. It was established on October 8, 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force. The prefix Royal was dropped after India became a Republic in 1950. It is the fourth largest airforce in the world and operates 1100+ combat and 1500+ non-combat aircraft.

History

Formation and early pilots

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was established as the Royal Indian Air Force by the passing of the Indian Air Force act on October 8 1932. Accordingly, IAF's Number 1 Squadron came into being on April 1 1933. Initially, the IAF consisted of five fighter pilots, one RAF commanding officer and four Westland Wapiti Biplanes.

Related Topics:
October 8 - 1932 - April 1 - 1933 - RAF

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The first five pilots commissioned into the Indian Air Force were H C Sircar, Subroto Mukerjee, Bhupendra Singh, A B Awan and Amarjeet Singh. A sixth officer, S N Tandon had to revert to Ground duties as he was too short. All of them were commissioned as Pilot Officers in 1933. Subroto Mukerjee later went on to become the IAF's first Indian Chief of Air Staff. Subsequent batches inducted before World War 2 included Aspy Engineer, K K Majumdar, Narendra, R H D Singh, S N Goyal, Baba Mehar Singh, Prithpal Singh and Arjan Singh.

Related Topics:
1933 - World War 2

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World War II (1939-1945)

The Royal Indian Air Force played an instrumental role in blocking the advance of the Japanese army in Burma. The IAF's first air strike was on the Japanese military base in Arakan, Burma. It has also carried out strike missions against the Japanese airbases at Mae-Haungsaun, Cheingmai and Chiangrai in Thailand.

Related Topics:
Japanese army - Burma - Thailand

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During the war, the Indian Air Force went through a phase of steady expansion. New aircraft, including the US-built Vultee Vengeance, Hawker Hurricane and Lysander, were added to its fleet.

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Indo-Pakistani War of 1947

In a bid to gain control of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir,Pathan tribesmen, armed and aided by Pakistan poured into Kashmir on October 20, 1947. Incapable of withstanding the armed assault in his province, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, asked India for help. The Government of India made its assistance conditional upon Kashmir's accession to India. The Instrument of accession was soon signed on October 26 1947 and the next day Indian troops were airlifted into Srinagar. The agreement was later ratified by the British.

Related Topics:
Jammu and Kashmir - Pakistan - Kashmir - October 20 - 1947 - Hari Singh - India - Government of India - Instrument of accession - October 26 - Srinagar - Ratified

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Taking off from Safdarjang, then known as Willingdon Airfield, the IAF landed Indian troops at Srinagar airfield at 0930 hrs IST on October 27. This was the most instrumental action of the war as the troops saved the city from the invaders in a famous operation. Apart from the airlifting operations and supplying essential commodities to the ground troops, the Indian Air Force had no other major role to play in the conflict. On December 31, 1948, both the nations agreed to a UN mediated cease-fire proposal marking the end of all hostilities. A Line of Control has since seperated Indian Kashmir from Pakistani-held Kashmir.

Related Topics:
Safdarjang - Srinagar - IST - October 27 - December 31 - 1948 - UN

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Congo Operation (1961)

Belgium's 75-year colonial rule of the Congo ended abruptly on June 30, 1960. Unable to control the detioriating situation in its former African colony, Belgium asked for UN assistance.

Related Topics:
Belgium - Congo - June 30 - 1960 - UN

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In India, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was quick to respond to the initial appeal for help and sent IAF Canberra aircraft as a part of the UN-led mission in Congo.

Related Topics:
Jawaharlal Nehru - Canberra

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Sino-Indian War (1962)

In 1962, China launched a sudden assault on Indian military ground positions in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Air Force was called to counter-attack the Chinese raid and to supply essential commodities to the troops fighting near the Sino-Indian border. The IAF carried out several extremely demanding operations, including the bombing of Chinese helipads in Tibet's mountainous region and airlifting injured soldiers. A notable feature of IAF operations during the conflict was operating C-119Gs from airstrips 17,000 metres above sea level in the Karakoram, Himalayas.

Related Topics:
China - Arunachal Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir - Karakoram

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However, the Government of India failed to organise the IAF assault in an efficient manner - one of the primary reasons for an Indian defeat in the conflict. Without essential air support, the Indian Army faced overwhelming odds in their fight against well prepared Chinese troops.

Related Topics:
Government of India - Indian Army

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Soon after, the Indian government, learning from its mistakes, began a vigorous campaign to expand the IAF. An emergency flying scheme was started in Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Nagpur and Patiala and more than 1,000 cadets received primary flying training by 1964. The IAF's strength was increased from 28,000 officers and men in 1961 to 100,000 officers and men by 1964. By 1965, the IAF had also included newly bought An-12B and C-119G aircraft to its fleet.

Related Topics:
1964 - 1961

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Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

On September 1 1965, war erupted between India and Pakistan. The Indian Air Force's Number 45 squadron quickly responded to the urgent call of air strikes against the Pakistani army and IAF Vampire FBMk.52s were successful in staggering the Pakistani thrust. During the conflict IAF Canberras raided several Pakistani bases including Sargodha and Chaklala. At one stage the IAF was operating 200 air missions simuntaneously. IAF Gnats of Squadron No. 23 and 9 played a significant role in major air battles and helped in turning the tide after an initial Pakistani thrust.

Related Topics:
September 1 - 1965

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Most of the IAF's operations were carried out against well protected Pakistani military bases,a reason why the IAF suffered more losses than the Pakistani Air Force. However, the Indian Air Force was successful in inflicting heavy casualties on the Pakistani army. A detailed account of the Indian Air Force in this particular war, titled "The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965" was published recently.

Related Topics:
Pakistani Air Force - Pakistani army

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Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

After the 1965 War, the Indian Air Force went through an intense phase of modernisation and consolidation. With newly acquired HF-24, MiG-21 and Sukhoi Su-7BM aircraft, the IAF was able to measure up to the most powerful air forces in the world.

Related Topics:
1965 War - MiG-21 - Sukhoi Su-7BM

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The professional standards, capability and flexibilty were soon put to test in December 1971 when India and Pakistan went to war over (then) East Pakistan. On November 22, 10 days before the start of a full-scale war, 4 PAF F-86 Sabre jets attacked Indian and Mukti Bahini positions near the Indo-Bangla border. 3 of the 4 PAF Sabres were soon shot down by IAF Gnats, and hostilities commenced. By mid-December the PAF had carried out strikes against Indian bases in Srinagar, Ambala, Sirsa, Halwar and Jodhpur. IAF's initial strategy was defensive, but after witnessing Pakistan Air Force's oppressive assault it launched a vigorous campaign against Pakistan. Within the first two weeks, the IAF had carried out more than 4,000 sorties in West Pakistan and provided successful air cover for the advancing Indian army in East Pakistan. IAF also assited the Indian Navy in sinking several Pakistani naval vessels in the Bay of Bengal. During the Battle of Longewala, the IAF destroyed over 50 Pakistani tanks and armoured vehicles. Not until the Gulf War would so many tanks be neutralised with little to no air losses. The air superiority was such that Richard Sisson in his book notes: "in the Sindh sector... were left unsupported by an air force fearful of losing planes and unsympathetic to the military's cause". In three weeks of intense fighting the IAF rapidly gained the initiative and dominated the skies, securing an Indian victory.

Related Topics:
December - 1971 - India - Pakistan - East Pakistan - November 22 - PAF - F-86 Sabre - Mukti Bahini - West Pakistan - Indian army - Indian Navy - Bay of Bengal - Battle of Longewala - Gulf War - Air superiority - Sindh

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Kargil War (1999)

During the Kargil conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force is said to have proved the decisive force in accelerating the end of the conflict. It successfully provided considerable air-cover for Indian troops fighting against Pakistani intruders and also carried out air assaults against enemy forces in Kashmir, but did not strike any targets in Pakistan. Most notable were the IAF's Mirage 2000 aircraft, which carried out surgical operations to assist ground troops in securing the strategically crucial Tiger Hill from its Pakistani captors. The IAF also carried out several operations to provide essential supplies to the ground troops. During the conflict, one IAF MiG-27 and an IAF MiG-21 were shot down by Pakistani air defence missiles. The latter was on a search operation to find the former's crash site, and the downed pilot, when it was shot down.

Related Topics:
Kargil - Pakistan - Mirage 2000 - MiG-27 - MiG-21 - Pakistani air defence missiles

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On August 10 1999, a PAF French-built naval Breguet Atlantic was caught spying over the Rann of Kutch area and was shot down by 2 IAF MiG-21 jets killing all 16 aboard. (See Atlantique Incident)

Related Topics:
August 10 - 1999 - Breguet Atlantic - Rann of Kutch - MiG-21 - Atlantique Incident

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