Indian Air Force turns 82: Top 5 things you need to know about Bharatiya Vayu Sena. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is considered the arm of the Indian armed forces. It is the fourth largest air force in the world. It was established on October 8 1932. After Independence, the Royal Indian Air Force became the Indian Air Force. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of all Indian armed forces. By virtue of fact he is also the national Commander-in-chief of the Air Force and Chief of the Air Staff with the rank of Air Chief Marshal is the Commander of the Indian Air Force. He is assisted by six officers, all with the rank of Air Marshal. Here are five things you need to know about the Indian Air Force Formation of IAF. Earlier the Indian Air Force was established in British India as a part of the Royal Air Force. It was later on after the enactment of the Indian Air Force Act 1932 on October 8 it became a separate body and received their Royal Air Force uniforms, badges and brevets. It was on April 1, 1933, IAF was commissioned its first squadron, No. 1 Squadron with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian pilots. It was then led by RAF Commanding officer Flight Lieutenant (later Air Vice Marshal) Cecil Bouchier. Indian Army’s role in Second World War. The Indian Air Force played a key role during the World War II. It was the IAF which blocked the Japanese army from intruding in Burma. It also carried out strike mission against the Japanese military base in Arakan. India’s military planners failed to deploy and use the IAF forces from the invading Chinese forces during the Sino-Indian War. This resulted in India losing to Chinese and mostly in Jammu and Kashmir. Changes in IAF. IAF went through a series of changes after the 1965 war. It was after 1965, the Para Cammandos were created to increase the operation ability. Indian then focused on manufacture of more fighter aircrafts, in the process, HAL HF-24 Marut, designed by the famed German aerospace engineer Kurt Tank, were introdues into the air force. After that important fighter crafts improved the strength of IAF. Kargil War. IAF strike was code named Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil war and was called in to support to the Indian Army with the use of helicopters. However IAF suffered its first fatality after losing MiG-21 and a MiG-27 in quick succession. Although IAF lost in the beginning, they paved the way for early capture. IAF MiG-21s shot down a Pakistan aircraft killing 21 Pakistan Navy personnel. After the the Kargil war, the Indian Army has been modernising and has been using the latest techniques in war. Future of IAF. The IAF has been constantly trying to improve after independence. Although many aircrafts have been decreased after using it for long periods of time. Currently modernizing the aircrafts is on great focus. Other equipments, infrastructure, both indigenous and imported items have been tested and used. As new aircraft enter service and numbers recover, the IAF plans to have a fleet of 42 squadrons. jai hind #kajal
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:56:34 +0000