The Indian Air Force (IAF) is celebrating its 87th birth anniversary with a grand event at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad. IAF or Indian Air Force was founded on October 8, 1932, and the force participated in several crucial wars and landmark missions. The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated to mark its anniversary. When it was formed, it had a strength of only six Royal Air Force-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers). The aircraft inventory comprised four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes.
India Air Force Day 2019 Live Updates
Apart from this, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will take delivery of India’s newest multirole fighter jet Rafale in France today. At Hindon, several IAF transport planes, helicopters, and fighter jets are participating in a flypast with Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria in attendance. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat attended the event.
The IAF will showcase its Chinook transport and Apache attack helicopters for the first time since they were acquired from the US in the last few months. Some of the aircraft taking part in the flypast are Chinook helicopter, Apache attack helicopter, Hercules transport aircraft, C-17 Globemaster III, Jaguar, MiG-21 Bison, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Sukhoi-30MKI and LCA Tejas,
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force tweets promo video for the 87th anniversary. IAF also tweeted, ” #AFDay19: On the occasion of 87th Anniversary, Indian Air Force extends its heartfelt greetings to the courageous air-warriors & their families. The Courage, Valour, Commitment, Dedication & Zeal are the inspiration for all.”
Air Force Celebrates 87th IAF Day
Earlier, on October 6, IAF had tweeted, “#AFDay19 : As the Indian Air Force prepares to celebrate the 87th anniversary of its birth, the Air-warriors of IAF are getting ready for the ceremonial parade as part of celebrations at Air Force Station Hindan. Come & witness the grand Parade. Two days to GO!!!”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to expresses gratitude to our air warriors. He tweeted, “Today, on Air Force Day, a proud nation expresses gratitude to our air warriors and their families. The Indian Air Force continues to serve India with utmost dedication and excellence.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also send greetings for IAF. He tweeted, “Greetings to all @IAF_MCC personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day. The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation. These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory.”
Chiefs of three services, Army Chief Bipin Rawat, Indian Air Force Chief, RKS Bhadauria and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, pay tributes at National War Memorial in Delhi on the occasion of Indian Force Day.
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria today said the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs to be alert at all times amid the “present security environment in the neighbourhood”. Addressing IAF personnel and their families on the 87th birth anniversary of the Air Force, he said all “Air Warriors should serve with great integrity at all times”.
The air display will start with flag-bearing skydivers of the Akash Ganga team dropping out of an AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies.
The IAF will showcase its Chinook heavy-lift twin-rotor transport helicopter and the Apache attack helicopters for the first. Both these helicopters were acquired from the US and inducted into the IAF in the last few months.
The flypast will include several helicopters and planes, starting with the Chinook and the Apache, and ending with a spectacular manoeuvre by the Russian-origin multirole fighter jet Sukhoi-30MKI.
A flypast of vintage planes including the Dakota that had served the IAF for over 40 years will be carried out over Hindon. The Dakota DC-3 aircraft of the 1940s was used till 1988. It was one of the most versatile transport aircraft of its time.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today as he takes delivery of the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft that India bought from France. He will perform a “Shastra Puja” on Dussehra, which falls today.
Mr. Singh tweeted after he arrived in Paris on Monday, “Delighted to be in France. This great nation is India’s important strategic partner and our special relationship goes far beyond the realm of formal ties. My visit to France is aimed at expanding the existing strategic partnership between both countries.”
While the formal handover ceremony takes place today, the first batch of four Rafale jets will fly to their home base in India by May 2020.
The handover ceremony will be followed by the annual Indo-French Defence Dialogue between Mr. Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly in Paris on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, the Defence Minister is scheduled to address CEOs representing French defence firms.
Nirmala Sitharaman tweets heartfelt greetings on the 87th IAF anniversary. She wrote, “Sincere and heartfelt greetings to the @IAF_MCC on their 87th anniversary. Your recent successful operation in Balakot overwhelmed all Indians. Professionalism, great leadership, and excellence are your hallmarks. Wishing you every success in the future too.”
Meanwhile, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman leads a ‘MiG formation’ and flies a MiG Bison Aircraft at Hindon Air Base on Air Force Day today.
Indian Air Force officers who participated in Balakot airstrike, fly 3 Mirage 2000 aircraft and 2 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in ‘Avenger formation’, at Hindon Air Base during the event on Air Force Day.
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