Air Force Day: Indian Air Force celebrates 87th anniversary at Hindon base; Chinook and Apache helicopters debut

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.
Watch Live on IAF Fb/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube from 0800H. pic.twitter.com/5tzCkHmeDp

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 8, 2019

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.

Watch the full video on : https://t.co/WyGyVrcXZy#AFDay19 pic.twitter.com/v2vlLA5Euh

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 5, 2019

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."

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. 

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!

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.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 7, 2019