On this day, Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh will also be acquiring the first of the 36 Rafale aircrafts for the IAF, marking an important milestone in the history of the armed forces.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday celebrated its 87th anniversary on Air Force Day 2019 at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. The heads of the three services of Indian Armed Forces attended the event after they paid their tributes at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of the Indian Air Force Day. Three newly-acquired Chinook transport helicopters were also flown in the 'Chinook formation' at the Hindon base during the event. This was followed by Indian Air Force officers, who participated in the Balakot airstrike, flying the three Mirage 2000 aircraft and two Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in the ‘Avenger formation’.
#WATCH Ghaziabad: Three Chinook transport helicopters fly in 'Chinook formation' at Hindon Air Base during the event on #AirForceDay today. pic.twitter.com/06rSyjvWv7
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 8, 2019
#WATCH Ghaziabad: Indian Air Force officers who participated in Balakot airstrike, fly 3 Mirage 2000 aircraft & 2 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in ‘Avenger formation’, at Hindon Air Base during the event on #AirForceDay today. pic.twitter.com/qV417aLNjr
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 8, 2019
Ghaziabad: Aircraft of Indian Air Force fly at Hindon Air Base during the event on #AirForceDay today. Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman flew a MiG Bison Aircraft, 3 Mirage 2000 aircraft & 2 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft were also flown by pilots who took part in Balakot air strike pic.twitter.com/nlEqavrj3w
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 8, 2019
Saluting the Indian Air Force heroes and their families on the occasion of 87th Air Force Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that IAF is a 'symbol of valour and courage'.
"Indian Air Force is a symbol of valor and courage. On Air Force Day, I salute our Air Force heroes and their families. Entire nation is proud of your dedication and commitment to safeguard our motherland," Shah tweeted.
Indian Air Force is a symbol of valor and courage.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 8, 2019
On Air Force Day, I salute our Air Force heroes and their families. Entire nation is proud of your dedication and commitment to safeguard our motherland.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, too, expressed their pride and admiration for the country's defence air wing.
Modi took to Twitter to post a tribute video for the Indian Air Force, and said, "Today, on Air Force Day, a proud nation expresses gratitude to our air warriors and their families. The Indian Air Force continues to serve India with utmost dedication and excellence."
Today, on Air Force Day, a proud nation expresses gratitude to our air warriors and their families. The Indian Air Force continues to serve India with utmost dedication and excellence. pic.twitter.com/iRJAIqft11
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2019
President Kovind honoured the air warriors in his tweet, "On Air Force Day, we proudly honour our air warriors, veterans, and families of the Indian Air Force. They safeguard our skies with courage and commitment. India remains forever indebted to the brave men and women in blue for their selfless devotion and sacrifice."
On Air Force Day, we proudly honour our air warriors, veterans, and families of the Indian Air Force. They safeguard our skies with courage and commitment. India remains forever indebted to the brave men and women in blue for their selfless devotion and sacrifice #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 8, 2019
The heads of the three services of Indian Armed Forces -- Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Karambir Singh, and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria -- today paid their tributes to mark the day when the Indian Air Force (IAF) was officially established.
Delhi: Chiefs of three services, Army Chief Bipin Rawat, Indian Air Force Chief, RKS Bhadauria and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, pay tributes at National War Memorial on #IndianForceDay. pic.twitter.com/kFyKneKvfL
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2019
Marshal RKS Bhadauria said today at the Air Force Day event that the strategic importance of the Balakot airstrike is the resolve of political leadership to punish perpetrators of terrorism. He said that there has been a major shift in the government's way of handling terrorist attacks. Further stressing on the importance of defence installations during the current conditions, he said, "Present security environment in the neighbourhood is a serious cause of concern. The Pulwama attack is a stark reminder of the persistent threat to defence installations."
The IAF, the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces, was established on this day 87 years ago, i.e. on October 8, 1932, and has evolved to become a major force to be reckoned with in securing the Indian airspace and in conducting aerial warfare during armed conflict.
This year, on this day, Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh will be acquiring the first of the 36 Rafale aircrafts for the IAF, marking an important milestone in the history of the armed forces.
Also Read: Rajnath Singh in France: Defence Minister to receive first Rafale jet today; full schedule, timings
Watch the 87th-anniversary event of the Indian Air Force here live.
INDIAN AIR FORCE CELEBRATES 87th ANNIVERSARY https://t.co/3fdlRgxUIQ
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 8, 2019
The full schedule of the Air Force Day programme is available here:
Follow DNA India to catch LIVE updates of Indian Air Force Day!
1. Service Chiefs pay tributes at National War Memorial
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The heads of the three services of Indian Armed Forces -- Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Karambir Singh, and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria -- today paid their tributes to mark the day when the Indian Air Force (IAF) was officially established.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat along with Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh paid floral tributes at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Air Force Day on Tuesday.
Indian Air Force in a tweet greeted the air-warriors and their families on the occasion of 87th Air Force Day.
IAF in a tweet said, " #AFDay19: On the occasion of 87th Anniversary, Indian Air Force extends its heartfelt greetings to the courageous air-warriors & their families. The Courage, Valour, Commitment, Dedication & Zeal are inspiration for all."
#AFDay19: On the occasion of 87th Anniversary, Indian Air Force extends its heartfelt greetings to the courageous air-warriors & their families. The Courage, Valour, Commitment, Dedication & Zeal are inspiration for all.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 8, 2019
Watch Live on IAF Fb/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube from 0800H. pic.twitter.com/5tzCkHmeDp
The IAF had on October 5 released a promo video for the Air Force Day
#AFDay2019 : Promo video on the occasion of 87th Anniversary of Indian Air Force.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 5, 2019
Watch the full video on : https://t.co/WyGyVrcXZy#AFDay19 pic.twitter.com/v2vlLA5Euh
2. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman commands a MiG-21 Bison jet
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Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of IAF who shot down a PAF F-16 during a dogfight on February 27 earlier this year, flew MiG-21 Bison aircraft over Air Force Day parade today at Hindon Air Base.
Three Mirage 2000 aircraft and two Su-30MKI fighter aircraft also flew in 'Avenger formation'. The planes are being flown by pilots who took part in Balakot airstrike.
Air Fighter Pilots who took part in Balakot air strikes were included in the parade as a mark of tribute to the teams which carried out the strike on February 26 and thwarted the Pakistani aerial attack on February 27.
The dogfight on February 27 erupted after PAF tried to carry out an attack on Indian military installations which was thwarted by the IAF. A day before, IAF had carried out aerial strikes at JeM Camp in Pakistan's Balakot.
The IAF carried out the strikes days after a terror attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu Kashmir's Pulwama which claimed the lives of over 40 paramilitary personnel.
Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated 87th anniversary on Air Force Day at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria were present at the event.
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said, "Indian Air Force is grateful for the nation's trust and confidence in us and the support provided. On behalf of all air warriors, I assure the nation of our sacred resolve, defending the sovereignty of our skies&safeguarding our national interest at all cost."
3. Showcasing might at the Hindon Air Force Station -
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The IAF showcased their latest defence acquisitions today in a spectacular display of might and fair capability at the Hindon Air Force Station near Delhi. The base, which falls under the Western Air Command, is the biggest and largest airbase in Asia and eighth in the world. It marks the Air Force Day on October 8 every year as a celebration of tradition.
This year, the IAF showcased, among other things, the recently acquired Apache and Chinook heavy-duty attack helicopters in the presence of CAS Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria. The choppers were acquired from the United States by the Indian Armed Forces.
4. India acquires first Rafale fighter aircraft
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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, i.e. October 8, 2019, receives the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft that are to be inducted into the Indian Air Force.
Singh, who is in Paris as a part of a two-day visit to France, will also fly a sortie in the Rafale fighter jet and perform 'Shastra Puja' on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, after meeting France's President Emmanuel Macron.
After these, the Defence Minister will proceed to Bordeaux to participate in the Rafale fighter jet handing-over ceremony at Merignac along with the French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly.
On arriving in Paris yesterday, i.e. on October 7, 2019, Singh had said, "This great nation is India’s important strategic partner and our special relationship goes far beyond the realm of formal ties."
"Bonjour Paris! Delighted to be in France. This great nation is India’s important strategic partner and our special relationship goes far beyond the realm of formal ties. My visit to France is aimed at expanding the existing strategic partnership between both countries," the Union Defence Minister had posted on Twitter.
Bonjour Paris!
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 7, 2019
Delighted to be in France. This great nation is India’s important strategic partner and our special relationship goes far beyond the realm of formal ties.
My visit to France is aimed at expanding the existing strategic partnership between both the countries.
