Indian Air Force Operationalises 2nd Squadron Of Indigenous Combat Aircraft Tejas

COIMBATORE (Tamil Nadu): The Indian Air Force has operationalised its new squadron “Number-18 – Flying Bullets” with the Light Combat Aircraft LCA Tejas yesterday. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria launched it at the Sulur airbase near Coimbatore.

The CAS Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria flew the #LCA Tejas fighter this morning with 45 Squadron at Air Force Station Sulur. He is on a visit to the Station for operationalisation of 18 Squadron.#LCATejas#IndianAirForce pic.twitter.com/v5Bfv8EJK5

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020

A Flypast by MI17 V5, ALH, An-32 and Tejas aircraft was followed by a traditional water cannon salute to the 18 Sqn fighters as they taxied in to their home tarmac for the first time.#LCATejas#IndianAirForce pic.twitter.com/1aGXN7THQl

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020

The Tejas Mk-1 inducted into the No.18 Squadron (Flying Bullets) — the only Param Vir Chakra Squadron of the IAF — was manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru.

Addressing the gathering, Bhadauria said the IAF will now on rely on indigenous products rather than foreign ones.

“We must synergise private sector firms and MSMEs to grab the opportunity of indigenous production for the IAF,” he said.

The Flying Bullets serves as the second Indian Air Force squadron to operate with the modern multi-role fighter aircraft LCA Tejas. The first squadron to operate with the aircraft known as the Number-45 Flying Daggers is also headquartered at the same base.

AIR correspondent reports that the indigenously developed light fighter aircraft LCA Tejas is certified with the “Full Operational Clearance” standard. It is a tailless, fourth generation, compound delta-wing aircraft developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

It is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics and multimode radar. Its structure is made of composite material.

The supersonic combat aircraft is considered the lightest and the smallest of its kind. Their new home, the Flying Bullets squadron, was initially formed in 1965 and has the distinction of being the first to land in and operate from Srinagar.

It was decorated with the highest gallantry medal Param Veer Chakra which was awarded posthumously to its Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon for his valiant action during the 1971 war with Pakistan.

The squadron has been revived on the 1st April this year at the Sulur base. It is set to further augment India’s defence of her air frontiers.

The No 18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto “Teevra aur Nirbhaya” meaning “Swift and Fearless,” was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft.

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.

It earned the sobriquet of ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar. The squadron was presented with the President’s Standard in November 2015.

The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur.

from League of India