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Home , Assam Regiment, INS Kadamba, Line of Control, Territorial Army (India)

armed forces 2017.pmd 189 30-03-2017, 15:51 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S ARMY

Largest land exercise Exercise Force 18, the largest ground forces exercise conducted in began at Aundh Military Station, Pune on March 2, 2016. There were troops from ASEAN Plus countries and Japan, Russia, United States of America, China and South Korea. The troops were trained by 28 foreign trainers who had been trained by the from Feb 24 to March 1. They, in turn, trained their troops in the exercise that went on till 8 March. Visiting participants were shown martial skills of Indian troops including a drill by soldiers of Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre. The Indian contingent of 40 soldiers was led by Lt Col Sophia Qureshi of the Corps of Signals.

First strike across LOC Early on Sept 29, 2016, Indian commandos struck seven terrorist camps in Occupied beyond the . This followed an attack by militants on an Indian Army establishment at Uri, killing 20 soldiers. India has always followed a defensive policy. Since India considers PoK a part of the country, this was officially not an attack on another country but an attack on terrorists on Indian soil. At least two Pakistani soldiers were killed while India suffered no casualties.

First woman to lead Army training contingent Lt Col Sophia Qureshi of the Corps of Signals led the Indian training contingent at Exercise Force 18 held from March 2 - 8, 2016 at Pune. She was also the only woman officer to command a contingent at the exercise. She is the third generation of soldiers in her family and she has been a member of the peacekeeping missions.

Only non-human During India’s 1965 war with Pakistan, one Indian battalion was trapped in the midst of an area full of killer land mines and began to pray to Jwala Devi. The troops noticed a goat walking through the mine field and reaching the other side safe. The grateful soldiers believed their prayers were answered. They took the goat with them, named him Mastana and he was given senior rank of Havildar. When the original Mastana died, he was replaced with another. The tradition continues.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 190 30-03-2017, 15:54 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

Assam Regiment celebrates platinum jubilee The Regiment raised on June 15, 1941 celebrated its 75th Raising Day or Platinum Jubilee at on June 15, 2016 releasing a First Day Cover. It has 22 battalions, all only from the north- eastern states. The regiment’s emblem is rhinoceros and the troops proudly call themselves rhinos. The battle cry is, “Rhino, charge!” Grateful and proud of its martyrs, the marching song of the regiment is Badlu Ram ka badan, in memory of the late Badlu Ram. It is one of the few units in the world to have won six Battle Honours — Jessami, Aradura and Kohima (Nagaland), Mawlaik, Kyaukmyaung and Toungoo (Burma/Myanmar) and one Theatre Award, all within three years of its raising.

Her master’s voice Mansi, a four-year-old Labrador Retriever of the Army’s Remount and Veterinary Corps and her handler Bashir Ahmad War (from tracker 188 years of Indian artillery dog unit of 160 ) were shot The Regiment of Artillery (RA) completed 188 down by infiltrators trying to cross over the years and celebrated the 189th Gunners’ Day on Line of Control in the region from Sept 28, 2016. Now the second-largest Arm of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir August 8, 2015. the Army, after the Infantry, RA was raised on that That night, Mansi sensed movement in the day with the first Indian Artillery Unit, 5 (Bombay) forests, pulled War towards the area. Mansi Mountain Battery. The Regiment has been an started barking and the militants found her integral part of all major operations in India location and shot her. including 1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971 and the Bashir who treated her like his child opened 1999 wars. fire to avenge Mansi’s death but was shot. War was laid to rest in his village in Kupwara. Mansi was buried in , Kashmir.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 191 30-03-2017, 15:54 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

Highest Army training school High Altitude Warfare School in , and Kashmir trains specially chosen troops in the hazards of the terrain. A part of their training is to carry at least 25 kg weight while they patrol the icy heights. They also rescue trapped people using normal shovels, ropes, snow bars and axes to technologically detectors to search for people buried under several feet of snow. Among work hazards are avalanches and health issues like frostbite and High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO). They construct igloos and snow caves to take shelter in during emergencies. Each shelter can hold 10 soldiers who even cook inside their temporary home.

A name for a number There are about 80 Army Transport (AT) companies and mules work in war and peace, carrying stores and ammunition, transport casualties to military hospitals in inhospitable areas. Mules are known by the hoof number, not by name. Hoof number 15328 was special. Born in 1960, she joined the Army on May 4, 1962, among the first batch in her unit. In 1987, Maj Chunni Lal Sharma, Officer Commanding, 853 AT Company ASC (Mountain Artillery Mules), was surprised that No 15328 was a 29-year-old and still working! Moreover, she was still happy to do her duty and travel up to high altitude areas of 17,000 ft. Her loyalty was recognised by Major Sharma who named her the Company Mascot and printed her photograph on the Company’s greeting card at the end of 1989. In 1992, hoof 15328 was sent to where she was named Pedongi and presented a blue velvet ceremonial rug by Col Girdhari Singh. Number 15328, the longest serving military mule, died peacefully in Bareilly on March 25, 1998.

Sikh honour in Straffordshire A memorial was unveiled at National Memorial Arboretum, Straffordshire, England on Feb 24, 2016. The memorial honours 1,30,000 Sikh soldiers of World War I, who made up a fifth of the British Indian Army in the Great War because Great Britain did not have enough troops. Floated by the WWI Sikh Memorial Fund, it was unveiled with a Sikh prayer and a minute’s silence in honour of those who fought for Great Britain.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 192 30-03-2017, 16:29 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S Dog squad in Republic Day parade The 67th Republic Day parade in 2016 in New Delhi included a squad of 36 Army dogs – 24 Labrador Retrievers and 12 German Shepherds. The dog squad last participated in the 1990 parade. Chosen from about 1,200 dogs trained in explosive and mine detection, tracking, assault, patrolling and guard duty, the all-male dog squad underwent intensive training for four months to get them accustomed to the heightened noise level on Raj Path. They wore specially designed and tailored capes with their regimental colours of maroon and gold. Army dogs have won one Shourya Chakra, six Sena Medals, 142 Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards, six Vice Chief Of Army Staff Commendation Cards and 448 Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation Cards!

A soldier never retires Brig KG Pitre, who lives in Pune, proved that ‘a soldier never retires’ when he went paragliding at the age of 93 in January 2016. Brig Pitre, who was commissioned into the Army in August 1944 did the 15-day basic para jumping course in Rawalpindi, then a part of undivided India. He had to give up para jumping in 1952 when a smoke grenade burst in his right hand during training. After retirement, Brig Pitre did a Master’s in History from Fergusson College and then a PhD in military history. He was the Commanding Officer of the legendary 5 Para Regiment which he raised in Kota. At the 54th anniversary of 5 Para in January 2016, he went paragliding at Agra and described it as fun! Brig Pitre was awarded the Ati (AVSM) for contributions during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

First foreign contingent at Republic Day functions, the customary marching contingent of parade ex-servicemen (ESM) at the Republic Day parade A 76-member contingent marched to martial 2016 was scrapped. Instead, there was a tableau music played by Music of the Infantry, a French titled Veterans in Nation Building. It projected military band of 48 musicians on Jan 26, 2016, their contribution to society after retirement. Republic Day. As chief guest Francois Hollande, President of France watched, Lt Col Paul Bury of Home for veterans the French 35th Infantry Regiment 7th Armoured Ashray, in Panchkula, Haryana is a home for army Brigade led troops of his battalion saluting the veterans who have no one to take care of them. , Pranab Mukherjee. Raised in Inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar 1604 in Lorraine, France, the regiment has 12 Lal Khattar and Army chief General Dalbir Singh battle honours from combat experiences in Suhag, it has 60 units, a gym, a Mess and a bar Algeria, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. besides television facilities. All Army pensioners and their single spouses are eligible. Ashray will be most First ex-servicemen tableau welcomed by veterans who have no children in As Army veterans demanded One Rank One India or are childless. Although subsidised, it is a Pension and called for a boycott of all government paid facility.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 193 30-03-2017, 16:29 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S Biggest flood relief exercise Army on Facebook From June 28 to 30, 2016, the Army conducted For reasons of national security, Army personnel the biggest flood relief exercise in to are discouraged from using personal social media prepare for coming exigencies Ex Jal Rahat. The accounts including exercise involved personnel of the Army, Indian Air Facebook. However, Force (IAF), Navy, the state government, National the Indian Army has Disaster Relief Force and Assam State Disaster its own Facebook Management Authority on the banks of the river page that, by mid- Brahmaputra. Besides ground forces, participants 2016 had 34+ lakh included a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) followers tracking the Army’s day to day activities. squadron and medical staff. Army Aviation Corps’ About 48 per cent followers belong to the 18-24 Cheetah and Advance Light helicopters and the year group and 6 per cent are in the 13-17 bracket. IAF’s MI-17 helicopters were used for aerial More than 31 lakh followers are from India. Of the reconnaissance. Divers of the Navy, NDRF and foreign countries, United Arab Emirates has over SDRF practised rescue, resuscitation and first aid 45,000. Of the Indian cities, Kolkata has the and taught the technique to local populace. highest number of followers: over three lakh!

Letters from the heart Jitendra Singh Gurjar who couldn’t join the Army, channelised his respect for the Army by writing to families of martyrs since the Kargil conflict in 1999. Jitendra, 37, who works as a security guard in Surat, has written nearly 3,000 such letters on postcards thanking them for the sacrifice made by the family and assuring them that the martyr will not be forgotten. With his database of nearly 20,000 names he visits families of martyrs to assure them that there is someone in the country who thinks of their deceased relative with gratitude.

First Indian battalion neechay hai, aur humay usska ration milta hai. The legendary Gurkha regiment that goes back (Badluram’s body is buried under the ground and to 1815 draws its troops from of India we draw his rations). and Nepal, in an approximate 30:70 ratio. The According to legend, Badluram of the Assam newly raised Sixth Battalion of the First Gurkha Regiment died in World War II. The then Quarter Rifles (6/1GR) commissioned on March 31, 2016 Master (QM) continued to draw rations in his name at 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Sabathu has about perhaps because he forgot to strike it off. Over 700 troops of only locally domiciled Gurkhas. time, the dead soldier’s share piled up. When the 6/1GR, the first Gurkha battalion to have been Japanese besieged the regiment in 1944 and cut off raised in 50 years will be known as Kanchi Paltan supplies, Badluram’s brothers-in-arms survived the with Col Avaneesh Chambial as the first siege living off his rations. Commanding Officer. was so grateful to Badluram that when recruits pass out of the training Legend of Badluram centre, the Badluram song, is a must. Composed The Assam Regiment, raised on June 15, 1941, is by Major MT Procter, it is set to the tune of John an Infantry regiment known for valour. The Brown’s body. At the Republic Day parade 2016, the thanksgiving regimental song, a rousing march, Assam Regiment soldiers were declared the best includes the line, Badluram ka badan, zameen kay marching contingent.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 194 30-03-2017, 16:29 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S NAVY

First Marcos base Chief of the Naval Staff Sunil Lanba commissioned a Marine Commandos Unit, INS Karnav on July 12, 2016. The unit at Bheemunipatanam, Visakhapatnam is for the Marine Commando Force also called Marcos. Raised in February 1987, Marcos can operate at sea, in air and on land. The Marcos unit is called Magarmach or crocodile.

INS India turns 75 The base depot or stone ship of the Navy in Delhi was established as HMIS India in 1941. The Flagship of the Chief of the Naval Staff, it was renamed INS India on Jan 26, 1950. In 75 years, it has had 32 Commanding Officers.

Most lethal India-made surface combatant INS , commissioned on Sept 30, 2015 at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, is the second ship of the indigenously designed stealth guided missile destroyers and the largest warship ever built in India. The Navy’s most powerful destroyer, she was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai over ten years. Planned and designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, the P15A ships are named after major ports of India including Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai. The keel of Kochi was laid on Oct 25,2005 and launched on Sept 18, 09. The most potent amongst surface combatants constructed in India, she measures 164 m in length and approximately 17 m in width, with a full load displacement of 7,500 tonnes. She is armed with the Israeli-built MF-STAR phased array radar capable to tracking targets several hundreds of kilometres away and surface-to-air missiles. The ship has a complement of 40 officers and 350 sailors. Her first Commanding Officer is Gurcharan Singh. The motto of the ship is, Armed to Conquer.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 195 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

First international customer of Boeing P-8I The Navy got the Boeing P-8I, short for Poseidon Eight India, a long range maritime patrol aircraft on Nov 13, 2015. The aircraft that gives the Navy capability for extensive surveillance can now respond more swiftly to contingencies. The P-8 aircraft participated in the search effort for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH 370. India is the first nation outside the United States of America to buy the P-8, each of eight aircraft costing US$ 2.1 billion. Equipped for long range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance it is based at INS Rajali under Indian Naval Air Squadron 312A. Its first Commander is Venkateshwaran Ranganathan. Only gas turbine overheaul centre INS Eksila at Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam is the only naval establishment in South East Asia for the major overhaul of Naval marine gas turbines that power naval ships. The unit was set up on Oct 22, 1991. Eksila uses cutting edge technology to maintain marine gas turbines.

Only shiplift The Navy’s only shiplift at INS Kadamba is a giant platform that can lift ships up to 6,500 tonnes and place them in a drydock for repairs.This means, it can pick up all warships of the Navy, except for the aircraft carriers. New Naval Air Enclave Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba inaugurated the new Largest exporting shipyard Naval Air Enclave on Oct 5, 2016. The enclave will help Shipyard Limited (GSL) is the largest exporting the new Boeing P8I aircraft and enhance surveillance shipyard in India. After delivering 11 craft to Mauritius and around the western coast and the Lakshdweep and Myanmar, it launched the first 105M Offshore Patrol Minicoy Islands. Neighbouring friendly countries will also Vehicles for on June 10, 2016. GSL earns 30 per benefit from prompt help, if required. The naval air cent of its turnover from exports to friendly countries. This enclave will operate aircraft that cannot be operated from has pushed its turnover up by over 42 per cent in just two INS Garuda because of its shorter runway length and the years. Among all Defence Public Sector Shipyards, Goa is presence of birds in the highly populated area. the largest spender on R&D.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 196 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

World’s oldest aircraft carrier On July 23, 2016 aircraft carrier INS Virat, the second aircraft carrier of India after INS Vikrant, sailed under her own propulsion for the last time as she left Mumbai for Kochi for essential repairs and dry docking before being decommissioned later in 2016. As a mark of appreciation for her service, the aircraft carrier was escorted out of the harbour by Fast Interceptor Craft and helicopters. This would be the second and final decommissioning for Virat that earlier served the British Royal Navy for 27 years as HMS Hermes. Spares for the old carrier were becoming difficult to find, leading to the decision to decommission the 28,000 ton ship. Once the necessary work is completed, she will call on all major Indian ports as a final salute. INS Virat was commissioned into the May 12, 1987. Since then, many aircraft have flown more than 22,034 hours from her decks spending nearly 2,250 days at sea. In means that in six years she has covered the entire globe 27 times. Her last operational deployment was during the International Fleet Review 2016. INS Virat is not just the oldest aircraft carrier but the oldest serving warship. She is affectionately referred to as Mother or the Grand Old Lady of the Indian Navy. INS Virat is replaced by INS Vikramaditya, commissioned in 2013.

Tarmugli commissioned Fast attack craft INS Tarmugli, named after an island in the Andaman group, was commissioned at the on May 23, 2016. The indigenously conceived, designed and built ship will be based in Visakhapatnam and deployed for coastal patrol and surveillance operations along the eastern coast. INS Tarmugli is the first Follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) built by Garden Reach Ship builders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE). The 320 tonne ship, measuring 48 m, can touch at least 30 knots. It can operate in shallow waters at high speeds. It has advanced MTU engines, water jet propulsion and modern communication equipment. It is armed with a 30 mm CRN 91 gun manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak. It is equipped with two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns and multiple medium machine guns and shoulder- launched Igla surface-to-air missiles to combat aerial threat. It is manned by four officers and 41 sailors. Commander Sreejith S Nair is its first Commanding Officer.

Biggest international fleet review President Pranab Mukherjee inspected ships from 50 countries off the coast from Andhra Pradesh on Feb 7, 2016. There were 75 warships from India. The first International Fleet Review was held Mumbai in 2001 from Feb 5 to 8, 2016 with 29 countries participating.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 197 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S The First Yacht of India INS Sumitra is the presidential yacht of India, the fourth and last Saryu class patrol vessel, designed and constructed at Goa Shipyard Limited. Biggest Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel to be developed at this shipyard, she was handed over to the Navy at Chennai on Sept 4, 2014. With the growing economic and strategic importance of the region, this is the first major ship based at Chennai. Her primary role is surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone. She also undertakes anti-piracy patrols, fleet support operations, maritime security of off-shore assets and escort operations. Like the others in her class, she has one 76 mm super rapid gun mount and two AK 630 Close In Weapon Systems besides either one Dhruv or a Chetak helicopter for which there is a helipad. Her first commanding officer is Milind Mokashi. She is administered by nine officers and 105 sailors.

Biggest batch of submariners INS Satavahana has three schools with submarine training, escape training and the school of advanced undersea warfare. In 2015, the Navy began training its largest batch of submariners in Visakhapatnam. This is the 88th batch for the year-long basic course for young sailors, whose average age is 25 years. It has 45 officers and 176 sailors. Every year, two batches are trained. The first six months are spent on land and the next six, on board an operational submarine. Officers have to train for a further six months to earn the dolphin badge. All students volunteer. On a submarine, no one wears a uniform.

Retired tired Latest anti-submarine corvette On May 11, 2016, the Navy retired Sea Harrier aircraft which INS Kadmat, an anti-submarine warfare corvette, were in its service for 33 years. Originally the Navy had 28 Sea was commissioned into the Navy on Jan 7, 2016. Harriers but only 11 remained on the day of decommissioning Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, it from INS Hansa base in Vasco, Goa. Led by Lt Cdr Arun Prakash is the second in its class of four ASW corvettes the first three Sea Harriers flew to India via Malta, Luxor and being built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Dubai. They landed at Dabolim, Goa, on Dec 16, 1983 to replace Engineers. It will be based at Visakhapatnam. the Sea Hawks.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 198 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

First indigenous torpedo launch vessel The Navy commissioned INS Astradharini, the first indigenous torpedo launch-and-recovery vessel, at Visakhapatnam naval base on Oct 9, 2015. The vessel designed by the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and Shoft Shipyard near Mumbai, has a catamaran hull that reduces the 50 m vessel’s power requirements. It can thus cruise at 15 knots and carry a crew of 29 including two officers. It can also carry 13 scientists since it will carry out technical trials of underwater weaponry. The large deck area has torpedo launchers. INS Astradharini replaces INS Astravahini, decommissioned in July 2015.

Biggest missile base INS Vajrakosh, the biggest naval missile station was inaugurated on Sept 9, 2015. With the neighbouring INS Kadamba, these two establishments are the world’s largest naval base east of the Suez Canal. As the name signifies, it is the biggest missile, ammunition and spares dump in the region and can equip all categories of warships and airplanes. The base will have two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant. The extent of its size is apparent from the fact that it will also hold over 20 submarines in underground pens and 47 warships, the largest pen in India.

Only submarine museum First Indian sailor to circumnavigate INS Kursura, India’s fourth submarine, commissioned the globe on Dec 18, 1969 saw action in the Indo-Pak war of As the first part of the Navy’s project, 1971. When she was decommissioned on Feb 27, Sagar Parikrama, Cdr Dilip Dhonde, a 2001, the Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine was clearance diver, completed parked finally on Ramakrishna Mission Beach in circumnavigating the globe on May 19, Visakhapatnam as a submarine museum in Asia which 2010. It took him over nine months that was inaugurated on August 9, 2002. With an overall included four stops with shore support length of 300 ft (91.3m), she can dive to a depth of with Cdr Abhilash Tomy who is the first 300 m (985 ft) with her full complement of 67 sailors Indian and second Asian to sail and and 8 officers. When she retired, she had covered circumnavigate the globe solo, unassisted 73,500 nautical miles (136,100 km). She is staffed by in 2013. The 56 ft long craft was built by six retired naval personnel who guide visitors while Ratnakar Dandekar at the yard of a private one more is the curator. builder, under the supervision of Dhonde.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 199 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

First BrahMos on Su-30 MKI A Su-30 MKI aircraft flew with the 2,500 kg BrahMos missile at HAL Airport in Nashik on June 25, 16. It is the first time in the world that such a heavy supersonic cruise missile was integrated on a fighter aircraft.The 45-minute sortie was flown by Wing Commander Prashant Nair and Wg Cdr MS Raju, both flight test crew of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, HAL

AIR FORCE

First women fighter pilots Women have been flying helicopters and transport aircraft since 1991. On June 18, 2016, three women were commissioned into the elite group of fighter pilots at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. Flying Officers Avani Chaturvedi, BhawanaKanth and Mohana Singh were from a batch of 130 flight cadets that included 22 women. They were the first three women cadets who were cleared for flying fighter aircraft and First all-woman sailing crew on open ocean voyage they trained with the rest of the batch at the The first all-woman sailing crew had six women naval officers from base in Hakempet. The cadets Goa, who took Navy’s only ocean-going sailboat, INSV Mhadei for a flew 55 hours on Stage 1 basic trainer, Pilatus PC voyage to Mauritius starting May 24, 2016. They reached Port Louis 7. Then, they trained on Stage II Kiran Mark II. on June 14, 2016 and returned to Goa on July 14, 2016. The crew Finally, they trained on Advanced Jet Trainers. covered over five thousand nautical miles through treacherous They were tested to take more than 5G+ or monsoon seas and heavy winds. Skipper Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, a naval more than five times the gravitational pull on the architect had Lt B Aishwarya, Lt P Swathi, Lt PratibhaJamwal, body while flying. Initially, their duties will be Lt Vijaya and S/Lt Payal Gupta as a team. They have been trained by limited to protecting Indian skies in combat air Cdr Dilip Donde. patrols. They will not fly over enemy territory.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 200 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

Colours for only PVC Squadron 18 Squadron, formed in Ambala on April 15, 1965, is the only squadron whose member has won a ParamVir Chakra. On Dec 14, 1971, alone in a Gnat, Flying Officer NJS Sekhon fought Pakistani Sabre aircraft in the face of certain death and was decorated posthumously with the Param . On Nov 28, 2015, President of India Pranab Mukherjee awarded the President’s Standard to No 18 Squadron at Air Force Station Hashimara. The Standard is awarded to outstanding operational units for their performance during peace as well as hostilities. The Commanding Officer, Group Captain KJ Father-son fly Sukhoi Singh received the Standard. Informally called Air Marshal SB Deo, Air Officer Commanding- the Flying Bullets, the squadron has also in-Chief, Western Air Command and his son Sqn received three Chakras, one Vayu Sena Ldr Karan Deo flew a sortie in Su-30 MKI fighter Medal (Gallantry), nine Vayu Sena Medals and aircraft together taking off from Air Force Station four Mention-in-Dispatches. Lohegaon, Pune on June 3, 2016 .

First Tejas sortie Tejas, the indigenously developed light combat aircraft was cleared for development, 33 years after it joined the IAF in Bengaluru on July 1, 2016. Tejas, which means radiance, was named by former prime minister . The first two Tejas aircraft joined the new Flying Daggers squadron, scheduled to get 18 such aircraft. Tejas has Israeili multi-mode Elta 2023 radar that includes four trainer aircraft. The jets have been developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the engine American and the ejection seat is British. The body is constructed with Indian carbon fibre composites and the Tarang Radar Warning Radar is Indian.

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armed forces 2017.pmd 201 30-03-2017, 16:31 T H E A R M E D F O R C E S

First CAS in LCA Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha flew the indigenously designed and produced Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at Bengaluru on May 1, 2016. The ace fighter pilot did manoeuvers in the entire flying envelope of the aircraft and simulated air to air, and air to ground attacks. Designed by Aeronautical Development Agency, Tejas has been Flying Minister produced by HAL Bengaluru. On invitation from Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Kiren Rijiju (46), Minister of State for Home First military station named after living Affairs, flew in an IAF fighter on May 18, 2016. legend Rijiju flew out of Halwara in Punjab in a Sukhoi or On April 15, 2016, Panagarh airbase was Su-30 for a 30 minute sortie in the supersonic jet renamed Air Force Station Arjan Singh after the to get a better idea of the work fighter pilots do. first Marshal of the Air Force, Arjan Singh who is Other non-IAF dignitaries who have flown fighter the only living Indian soldier jets include former Presidents APJ Abdul Kalam with the five-star rank. and Prathiba Patil and former Defence Minister The renaming was a . birthday gift to the the legend on his 97th birthday. This is a rare honour for the Transport squadron with many firsts man who led the IAF in Mighty Jets, one of the oldest Indian transport the 1965 war squadrons, has a number of firsts to its credit. since military Raised in Chandigarh with AN-12 aircraft on stations are March 31, 1961, it won Battle Honours for generally offensive operations during bombing missions, not named generally work that is left to fighter jets. It was after awarded the president’s Standard in March 2011, people, the first transport squadron thus honours. It is the especially only IL-76 Squadron in the IAF. It is the only Indian those still unit to circumnavigate the world. Its aircraft have living. flown over the North Pole. It boasts of the first woman multi-engine jet pilot, Sqn Ldr Veena Saharan.

Record RTIs Retired Indian Air Force officer Sanjeev Sharma has sent the Central Information Commission over 3,588 RTI petitions in an attempt to bring to light what he perceives as problem areas as of July 15, 2015. The Commission has designated one person to handle the applications.

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