Published: 1st Jun, 2020
The Indian Air Force’s 18 Squadron, which earned the nickname of Defenders of Kashmir Valley for being the first to land and operate from Srinagar, has been operationalised once again at Air Force Station Sulur near Coimbatore.
Context
The Indian Air Force’s 18 Squadron, which earned the nickname of Defenders of Kashmir Valley for being the first to land and operate from Srinagar, has been operationalised once again at Air Force Station Sulur near Coimbatore.
About
What is 18 Squadron?
- 18 Squadron was formed on 15 April 1965 with the motto ‘Teevra aur Nirbhaya’ meaning ‘Swift and Fearless’.
- The Squadron was flying MiG 27 aircraft before it got number plated on 15 April 2016.
- The squadron actively participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously.
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The 1971 War:
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- In IAF jargon, a squadron which is bereft of aircraft is not retired but ‘number-plated’. This means that the squadron exists and could be revived when aircraft are available.
- The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur. The Squadron was presented with President’s Standard in November 2015.
The squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas.
About Tejas:
- Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta wing aircraft.
- The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made out of composite material.
- It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth generation supersonic combat aircraft.
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