Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary with Airshow in Chennai

The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 92nd anniversary on October 8, 2024, with an airshow at Marina Beach in Chennai. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin were among the prominent attendees. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Bharatiya Vayusena: Saksham, Sashakt aur Aatmnirbhar” (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant).

CONTENTS:

• Air Force Day celebrated.
• IAF celebrates 92nd anniversary.
• Rafale, India’s advanced fighter jet.
• Tejas, India’s indigenous fighter jet.
• Su-30MKI, IAF’s backbone fighter.
• MiG-21, India’s veteran fighter.
• Mirage-2000, India’s versatile fighter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel and their families on the occasion of Air Force Day, which marks the 92nd anniversary of the IAF. This year’s theme, “Bhartiya Vayu Sena – Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar” (Potent, Powerful, Self-Reliant), emphasizes the IAF’s dedication to defending India’s skies.

In his message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Modi praised the courage and professionalism of the IAF, saying, “Air Force Day greetings to our brave air warriors. Our Air Force is admired for their courage and professionalism. Their role in protecting our nation is extremely commendable.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also shared a tribute on X, expressing his gratitude to the air warriors for their courage, patriotism, and sacrifice, while saluting those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed his greetings, highlighting the IAF’s unparalleled bravery and professionalism, and commended their role in both defense and humanitarian efforts. He added that the nation takes great pride in the Air Force’s achievements.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also sent his wishes, saluting the IAF for their unwavering readiness to protect India.

Air Force Day, celebrated annually on October 8, honors the IAF and its pilots. The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932, and its first flight took place on April 1, 1933, with a small fleet of biplanes and a team of RAF-trained officers and airmen stationed at Drigh Road.

Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary  Indian Air Force Day, celebrated annually on October 8, marks the establishment of the Indian Air Force in 1932. The day honors the brave efforts of the IAF in defending India’s airspace from potential threats. Recognized as one of the most advanced and well-equipped military forces globally, the IAF plays a vital role in national security.

This year’s 92nd celebration will take place at Marina Beach in Chennai, featuring an airshow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Prominent attendees include Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The theme for this year, “Bharatiya Vayusena: Saksham, Sashakt aur Aatmnirbhar” (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant), highlights the IAF’s modernization and self-reliance, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

In honor of this occasion, let’s take a look at some of the most advanced fighter jets that form the backbone of the Indian Air Force.

Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary  The Dassault Rafale, a state-of-the-art twin-engine combat aircraft, was developed by French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation. Widely regarded as one of the best fighter jets globally, India currently has 36 Rafales in its fleet. The first squadron was stationed at Ambala Air Force Station.

Notable for its delta wing design and powerful twin-engine setup, the Rafale can withstand impressive G-forces of up to 11G. It is designed to handle a variety of missions, including ground and maritime strikes, reconnaissance, precision attacks, and nuclear deterrence, making it highly versatile against diverse threats.

Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary  The HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is a key achievement of India’s Make in India initiative, symbolizing the nation’s push for self-reliance. The Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first Tejas jet in July 2016. This supersonic fighter is a single-seat, single-engine, lightweight, and highly agile aircraft with a delta-wing design, making it one of India’s most advanced jets.

The naval variant of Tejas has also been successfully integrated into the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. This versatile aircraft is capable of carrying out various missions, including air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, as well as anti-ship operations.

Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary  The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a multi-role combat aircraft, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in collaboration with Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau. As of 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates approximately 300 of these aircraft. India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia in October 2000 to begin licensed production of the Su-30MKI at HAL’s facility.

The advanced 222 Squadron (Tigersharks) is equipped with this fighter jet, which is capable of carrying BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. In 2018, India undertook indigenous repairs, and an upgraded Su-30MKI was delivered to the IAF in October of that year.

Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary  The MiG-21, often referred to as the “Flying Coffin,” is notable for being the most produced and widely sold fighter jet in history. In India, it has been in service for nearly 60 years and has undergone multiple upgrades to keep pace with third-generation fighter jets. The aircraft was obtained from the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in 1961, with around 250 units currently operational in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The MiG-21 features a single-seat cockpit and can reach a maximum speed of 1.05 Mach (approximately 1,300 km/h).

Indian Air Force Celebrates 92nd Anniversary The Mirage-2000 made its first flight in March 1978. This single-engine, fourth-generation fighter jet comes in several variants and is utilized by various countries, including India, the UAE, Qatar, Brazil, Taiwan, Greece, Peru, and Egypt. Reports indicate that the Mirage-2000 has nine hardpoints for weapon systems—five on the fuselage and two on each wing. Additionally, the single-seat variant is outfitted with two internally mounted 30mm guns, known for their high rate of fire.