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List of active Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an organized list of all of the active aircraft squadrons that currently exist in the Indian Air Force. Squadrons might have changed names and designations many times over the years, so they are listed by their current designation. Expeditionary and provisional units are not listed.

Combat

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 1 Squadron Tigers Central Air Command 1 April 1933 Maharajpur AFS,
Madhya Pradesh
Mirage 2000 [1]
No. 2 Squadron Winged Arrows Eastern Air Command 1 April 1941 Tezpur AFS,
Assam
Su-30MKI [2]
No. 3 Squadron Cobras South Western Air Command 1 October 1941 NAL AFS,
Rajasthan
MiG-21 [3]
No. 4 Squadron Oorials South Western Air Command 1 February 1932 Uttarlai AFS,
Rajasthan
Su-30MKI [4]
No. 5 Squadron Tuskers Western Air Command 2 November 1948 Ambala AFS,
Punjab
Jaguar [5]
No. 6 Squadron Dragons South Western Air Command 1 December 1942 Jamnagar AFS,
Gujarat
Jaguar [6]
No. 7 Squadron Battle Axes Central Air Command 1 December 1942 Maharajpur AFS,
Madhya Pradesh
Mirage 2000 [7]
No. 8 Squadron Eight Pursoots Central Air Command 1 December 1942 Bareilly AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Su-30MKI [8]
No. 9 Squadron Wolfpack Central Air Command 4 January 1944 Maharajpur AFS,
Madhya Pradesh
Mirage 2000 [9]
No. 14 Squadron Bulls Western Air Command 15 August 1951 Ambala AFS,
Punjab
Jaguar [10]
No. 15 Squadron Flying Lances Western Air Command 20 August 1951 Sirsa AFS,
Punjab
Su-30MKI [11]
No. 16 Squadron Black Cobras Central Air Command 1950 Gorakhpur AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Jaguar [12]
No. 17 Squadron Goldern Arrows Western Air Command 1 October 1951 Ambala AFS,
Punjab
Rafale [13]
No. 18 Squadron Flying Bullets Southern Air Command 15 April 1965 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
Tejas [14]
No. 20 Squadron Lightnings South Western Air Command 1 June 1956 Lohegaon AFS,
Maharashtra
Su-30MKI [15]
No. 23 Squadron Panthers South Western Air Command 1 October 1956 NAL AFS,
Rajasthan
MiG-21 [16][17]
No. 24 Squadron Hawks Central Air Command 19 February 1962 Bareilly AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Su-30MKI [18]
No. 27 Squadron Flaming Arrows Central Air Command 15 February 1957 Gorakhpur AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Jaguar [19]
No. 29 Squadron First Supersonics Western Air Command 23 March 1963 Adampur AFS,
Punjab
MiG-29 [20]
No. 30 Squadron Rhinos South Western Air Command 1 November 1969 Lohegaon AFS,
Maharashtra
Su-30MKI [21]
No. 31 Squadron Lions South Western Air Command 1 September 1963 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan
Su-30MKI [22]
No. 45 Squadron Flying Daggers Southern Air Command 20 November 1959 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
Tejas [23]
No. 47 Squadron Black Archers Western Air Command 18 December 1959 Adampur AFS,
Punjab
MiG-29 [24]
No. 101 Squadron Falcons Eastern Air Command 1 May 1949 Hasimara AFS,
West Bengal
Rafale [25]
No. 102 Squadron Trisonics Eastern Air Command 25 August 1981 Chabua AFS,
Assam
Su-30MKI [26]
No. 106 Squadron Lynxes Eastern Air Command 11 December 1959 Tezpur AFS,
Assam
Su-30MKI [27]
No. 220 Squadron Desert Tigers Western Air Command 23 December 1957 Halwara AFS,
Punjab
Su-30MKI [28]
No. 221 Squadron Valiants Western Air Command 14 February 1963 Halwara AFS,
Punjab
Su-30MKI [29]
No. 222 Squadron Tigersharks Southern Air Command 15 September 1969 Thanjavur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
Su-30MKI [30]
No. 223 Squadron Tridents Western Air Command 10 May 1982 Srinagar AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir
MiG-29 [31]
No. 224 Squadron Warlords South Western Air Command 4 October 1983 Jamnagar AFS,
Gujarat
Jaguar [32]

Transport

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 11 Squadron Charging Rhinos South Western Air Command 15 November 1951 Makarpura AFS,
Gujarat
Airbus C-295 [33]
No. 12 Squadron Yaks Central Air Command 1 December 1945 Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
An-32 [34]
No. 19 Squadron Southern Air Command 24 May 1960 Port Blair AFS,
Andaman and Nicobar
Do-228 [35]
No. 25 Squadron Himalayan Eagles South Western Air Command 1 March 1963 Makarpura AFS,
Gujarat
An-32 [36]
No. 33 Squadron Himalayan Geese Southern Air Command 9 January 1963 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
An-32 [37]
No. 41 Squadron Otters Western Air Command 1 March 1958 Palam AFS,
Delhi
HS 748
Do-228
[38]
No. 43 Squadron Ibex Eastern Air Command 20 January 1958 Jorhat AFS,
Assam
An-32 [39]
No. 44 Squadron Mighty Jets Western Air Command 31 March 1961 Chandigarh AFS,
Chandigarh
Il-76 [40]
No. 48 Squadron Camels Western Air Command 15 November 1959 Chandigarh AFS,
Chandigarh
An-32 [41]
No. 49 Squadron Paraspears Eastern Air Command 2 February 1960 Jorhat AFS,
Assam
An-32 [42]
No. 59 Squadron Hornbills Eastern Air Command 14 February 1960 Guwahati AFS,
Assam
Do-228 [43]
No. 77 Squadron Veiled Vipers Western Air Command 5 February 2011 Hindon AFS,
Delhi
C-130J [44]
No. 81 Squadron Sky Lords Western Air Command 1 September 2013 Hindon AFS,
Delhi
C-17 [45]
No. 87 Squadron Raiding Raptors Eastern Air Command 6 May 2016 Panagarh AFS,
Assam
C-130J [46]

Helicopter

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 104 Helicopter Squadron Firebirds South Western Air Command 25 August 1992 Suratgarh AFS,
Rajasthan
Mi-35 [47]
No. 125 Helicopter Squadron Gladiators Western Air Command 31 December 1983 Pathankot AFS,
Punjab
AH-64 [48]
No. 105 Helicopter Unit Daring Eagles Central Air Command 23 November 1959 Gorakhpur AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Mi-17 [49]
No. 107 Helicopter Unit Desert Hawks South Western Air Command 1 January 1960 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan
Mi-8 [50]
No. 109 Helicopter Unit Knights Southern Air Command 26 August 1961 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
Mi-17 [51]
No. 110 Helicopter Unit Vanguards Eastern Air Command 10 August 1963 Kumbhigram AFS,
Assam
Mi-8 [52]
No. 111 Helicopter Unit Snow Tigers Central Air Command 1 August 1963 Bareilly AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Dhruv [53]
No. 112 Helicopter Unit Thoroughbreds Training Command 1 August 1963 Yelahanka AFS,
Karnataka
Mi-8 [54]
No. 114 Helicopter Unit Siachen Pioneers Western Air Command 1 April 1964 Leh AFS,
Ladakh
Cheetah [55]
No. 115 Helicopter Unit Hovering Angels Eastern Air Command 1 April 1967 Tezpur AFS,
Assam
Dhruv [56]
No. 116 Helicopter Unit Tankbusters South Western Air Command 1 January 1970 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan
Chetak [57]
No. 117 Helicopter Unit Himalyan Dragons Central Air Command 1 February 1971 Saraswa AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Dhruv [58]
No. 118 Helicopter Unit Challengers Eastern Air Command 22 November 1971 Guwahati AFS,
Assam
Mi-8 [59]
No. 119 Helicopter Unit Stallions South Western Air Command 3 March 1972 Jamnagar AFS,
Gujarat
Mi-17 [60]
No. 127 Helicopter Unit First Ranas Eastern Air Command 10 January 1985 Mohanbari AFS,
Assam
Mi-17 [61]
No. 128 Helicopter Unit Siachen Tigers Eastern Air Command 30 December 1985 Mohanbari AFS,
Assam
Mi-17 [62]
No. 129 Helicopter Unit Nubra Warriors Central Air Command 1 July 1987 Hindon AFS,
Delhi
Mi-17 [63]
No. 130 Helicopter Unit Condors Western Air Command 15 February 1988 Leh AFS,
Ladakh
Mi-17 [64]
No. 143 Helicopter Unit Dhanush South Western Air Command 1 June 2022 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan
Prachand [65]
No. 152 Helicopter Unit Mighty Armours Central Air Command 14 September 1988 Saraswa AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Mi-17 [66]
No. 153 Helicopter Unit Daring Dragons Western Air Command 1 November 1988 Udhampur AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir
Mi-17 [67]
No. 154 Helicopter Unit Snow Leopards Western Air Command 8 March 2012 Srinagar AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir
Mi-17 [68]
No. 155 Helicopter Unit Kirpans South Western Air Command 14 January 2011 Suratgarh AFS,
Rajasthan
Mi-17 [69]
No. 156 Helicopter Unit Armoured Kestrals Eastern Air Command 23 January 2012 Bagdogra AFS,
West Bengal
Mi-17 [70]
No. 157 Helicopter Unit Tarkshya Eastern Air Command 9 April 2012 Barrackpore AFS,
West Bengal
Mi-17 [71]
No. 158 Helicopter Unit Silver Falcions South Western Air Command 10 December 2012 Phalodi AFS,
Rajasthan
Mi-17 [72]
No. 159 Helicopter Unit Rudraksh South Western Air Command 11 February 2013 Nagpur AFS,
Maharashtra
Mi-17 [73]
No. ??? Helicopter Unit Southern Air Command 19 March 2024 Thanjavur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
Chetak [74]
No. 121 Helicopter Flight Sea Eagles South Western Air Command 7 January 1973 Mumbai,
Maharashtra
Mi-17 [75]
No. 122 Helicopter Flight Flying Dolphins Southern Air Command 26 September 1981 Car Nicobar AFS,
Andaman and Nicobar
Mi-17 [76]
No. 126 Helicopter Flight Featherweights Western Air Command 15 May 1986 Chandigarh AFS,
Chandigarh
CH-47 [77]
No. 131 Helicopter Flight Eagle Eyes Western Air Command Hindon AFS,
Delhi
Cheetah
Chetak
[78]
No. 132 Helicopter Flight Hovering Hawks Western Air Command Udhampur AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir
Cheetah [78]

Aerial Refueling

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 78 Squadron Valarous Mars Central Air Command 16 December 2002 Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
Il-78MKI [79]

Electronic warfare/Airborne early warning(AWS)

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 50 Squadron Adwitiya Central Air Command 1 October 2008 Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh
A-50 [80]
No. 181 Flight Hawks Western Air Command 5 August 1978 Hindon AFS,
Delhi
737 SIGNIT
748-R
[81]
No. 200 Squadron Netra Western Air Command 4 December 2014 Bathinda AFS,
Punjab
ERJ-145SM AEW&C [82]

Aerobatics display

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 52 Squadron Sharks Training Command 1 January 1986 Bidar AFS,
Karnataka
Hawk [83]
No. 151 Helicopter Unit Sarangs Southern Air Command 1 June 1989 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu
Dhruv [84]

Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)

[edit]
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 3001 Squadron Western Air Command 27 November 2000 Bathinda AFS,
Punjab
[85][78]
No. 3002 Squadron Cats Eyes South Western Air Command 3 December 2003 Jaisalmer AFS,
Rajasthan
[86][78]
No. 3003 Squadron Trinetra Western Air Command 1 December 2003 Jammu AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir
[87][78]
No. 3004 Squadron South Western Air Command 4 December 2014 Naliya AFS,
Gujarat
[88]
No. 3005 Squadron Warden of the North Western Air Command 14 June 2005 Awantipur AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir
IAI Heron Mk 2 [89][90]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "No.1 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. ^ "No.2 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. ^ "No.3 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ^ "No.4 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. ^ "No.5 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ "No.6 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ "No.7 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  8. ^ "No.8 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ "No.9 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. ^ "No.14 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ "No.15 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  12. ^ "No.16 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ^ "No.17 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  14. ^ "No.18 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  15. ^ "No.20 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  16. ^ "No.23 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  17. ^ Singh, Rahul (28 June 2024). "IAF relocates MiG-21s to Nal base as it prepares to replace the fleet". Hindustan Times.
  18. ^ "No.24 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  19. ^ "No.27 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  20. ^ "No.29 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  21. ^ "No.30 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  22. ^ "No.31 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  23. ^ "No.45 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  24. ^ "No.47 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  25. ^ "No.101 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  26. ^ "No.102 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  27. ^ "No.106 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  28. ^ "No.220 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  29. ^ "No.221 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  30. ^ "No.222 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  31. ^ "No.223 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  32. ^ "No.224 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  33. ^ "No.11 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  34. ^ "No.12 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  35. ^ "No.19 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  36. ^ "No.25 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  37. ^ "No.33 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  38. ^ "No.41 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  39. ^ "No.43 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  40. ^ "No.44 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  41. ^ "No.48 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  42. ^ "No.49 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  43. ^ "No.59 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  44. ^ "No.77 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  45. ^ "No.81 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  46. ^ "No.87 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  47. ^ "No.104 Helicopter squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  48. ^ "No.125 Helicopter squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  49. ^ "No.105 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  50. ^ "No.107 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  51. ^ "No.109 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  52. ^ "No.110 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  53. ^ "No.111 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  54. ^ "No.112 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  55. ^ "No.114 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  56. ^ "No.115 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  57. ^ "No.116 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  58. ^ "No.117 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  59. ^ "No.118 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  60. ^ "No.119 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  61. ^ "No.127 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  62. ^ "No.128 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  63. ^ "No.129 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  64. ^ "No.130 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  65. ^ "No.143 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  66. ^ "No.152 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  67. ^ "No.153 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  68. ^ "No.154 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  69. ^ "No.155 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  70. ^ "No.156 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  71. ^ "No.157 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  72. ^ "No.158 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  73. ^ "No.159 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  74. ^ "INDUCTION OF HELICOPTER UNIT AT AIR FORCE STATION THANJAVUR". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  75. ^ "No.121 Helicopter Flight, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  76. ^ "No.122 Helicopter Flight, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  77. ^ "No.126 Helicopter Flight, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
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  79. ^ "No.78 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  80. ^ "No.50 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  81. ^ "No.181 Flight, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  82. ^ "No.200 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  83. ^ "No.52 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  84. ^ "No.151 Helicopter Unit, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  85. ^ "No.3001 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  86. ^ "No.3002 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  87. ^ "No.3003 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  88. ^ "No.3004 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  89. ^ "No.3005 squadron, IAF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  90. ^ "India inducts new Heron Mark-2 drones, can stay in the air for 36 hours and surveil both Pakistan and China borders in one go". The Times of India. 13 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 April 2024.