At 93rd Air Force Day, India honours Operation Sindoor’s heroes and its decisive strategic victory

The 93rd Indian Air Force Day was celebrated at the Hindon Air Force Station on Wednesday, honouring the valour and dedication of the men and women in blue who safeguard the nation’s skies. This year’s celebrations carried a special tribute to Operation Sindoor, a defining moment in the IAF’s legacy.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces, was officially established on October 8, 1932, as an auxiliary air force of British India.

Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. The force has since evolved into one of the most formidable air powers in the world. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi arrived at the Hindon Airbase to mark the occasion.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh inspected the ceremonial parade, held to honour the guardians of India’s skies and their bravery during Operation Sindoor.

The Air Force’s rapid deployment capabilities were on full display during the operation, which took place in May 2025 as part of India’s military retaliation following the Pahalgam attack.

Air warriors carried out a grand march past alongside fighter jets showcased on the tarmac, as spectators witnessed the strength and precision of India’s air power.

In his Special Order of the Day, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said, “As we commemorate this day, we pay tribute to the valour, dedication and unwavering spirit of the Indian Air Force in safeguarding our nation’s skies.”

“The world is witnessing a significant geopolitical shift, and recent conflicts have clearly underscored the decisive role of air power in achieving national objectives. Through Operation Sindoor, we reaffirmed the primacy of air power in shaping military outcomes,” he added.

Launched on May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was a high-precision, intelligence-driven punitive strike carried out by the Indian armed forces in response to the Pahalgam attack.

The operation targeted nine confirmed terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and deeper within Pakistan.

The IAF conducted coordinated strikes on critical targets, including the Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan air bases, using advanced indigenous platforms and leveraging the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) for real-time, multi-domain coordination — reaffirming India’s growing technological and strategic edge in modern warfare.

 

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[navinbijoy]

Our PR should be more agressive.

 

[SandeepGupta]

No Doubt Rafaele Spectra is one of the I say one of the best decoy still 114 Rafaele is an expensive proposition and only 36 need to be purchased for 60000-70000 Crore just to please France and (36 Old+36 New=72) be deployed in small batches combined with LCA Mk 1A all over LAC and LOC. For all areas two other platforms can fill the Vacuum. Instead of 78 additional Rafaele 900 Empty Mig 35 be purchased with 2.4 Ton Soloviev D30F6M Engines of Mig 31 for 1.76 Lac Crore. For this 50000 Crore extra expenditure will be required. Then use of Indian Israel British Avionics including 3x better than Uttam AESA as already given Li F (out of Li Fi), Mission Computer, Dhruti RWR, New IFF, Identification of Friend or Foe Equipment, Scorpius ASPJ, Magnetic Anomaly Detecter as given, LiDAR as already given, Israeli Digital Colour Map Generator, MAWS, SDR Radios, 2X RAM Coatings as already given, Laser Designation Pod, Pirate FLIR/IRST and Russian Su57M1 Helmet/British 6th Generation Plane Helmet and 550 Kms British HARM Anti Radiation Missiles will make it a formidable plane. Similarly 400 Empty Su57M1 be purchased with 1 back radar out of of 6 Radars and Russian/British Helmet, and AL51F1/AL177 Engine for 375 Crore per plane =1.50 Lac Crore. Rest above etc. Avionics. Russian French and Indian Weapons package in both planes. So for 2 Lac Crore plus 3 Lac Crore for Avionics and Weapons package =5 Lac Crore extra 1300 Planes or 72 Squadrons will be war ready for 40 Years Life with One Mid Life Avionics Upgrade Expenditure will be required. These Mig 35 and Su57M1 planes will be better than Rafaele.

Mostly Rupees Rouble Trade will be there instead of Hard Currency Euro/USD. Not much Training will be required for Mig 35 and Su57M1 as familiar platforms with IAF Mig 29 UPG and Su 30MKI.

F22 Raptor using 2.3 ton Engine and F35 using 2.9 to 3.3 ton Engine so Soloviev D30F6M 2.4 Ton is just same same with matching high thrust.

In Total 300 Hawk 200AJT will be required with Honeywell Engine F 125 for IAF. Alternately Kaveri Dry Engines can be fitted. They will be fitted with above mentioned Radar and Dhruti RWR, New IFF Equipment, Scorpius ASPJ, Digital Color Map Generator, Laser Designation Pod, MAWS, SDR Radios, LiDAR, Pirate FLIR/IRST like avionics 2x RAM Coatings as already given and air to air weapons. Over the shoulders like right left side like two Meteor missiles it can carry. Below it can carry 4 Missiles including 2xASRAAM and 2xMICA Extended Range 210 Kms Missiles as already given. Empty planes will cost 70 Crore fully loaded 300 Crore per plane. They will be formidably armed trainer cum reconnance planes and can be made Mach 12 Compatible with Zero RCS.