No. 45 Squadron IAF

No. 45 Squadron
First Tejas flight after the squadron induction ceremony.
Active	1957 - Present.
Country	Republic of India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Role	Air superiority Precision Strike Combat air patrol
Garrison/HQ	Bangalore, Karnataka
Nickname(s)	Flying Daggers
Motto(s)	Ajithalakshya Invincibility Our Mission
Commanders
Current commander	Group Captain Madhav Rangachari[1]
Aircraft flown
Attack	HAL Tejas

No. 45 Squadron Indian Airforce (Flying Daggers) is a Fighter Squadron internally based at Bangalore, Karnataka. The Squadron operate indigenous HAL Tejas fighter from 1 July 2016.^[2]

History

The squadron was raised on 15 February 1957,^[3] with de Havilland Vampires, as a Ground-Attack and Close Air Support unit. Later The Vampires were replaced by MiG-21Bison. The MiGs are withdrawn from squadron service in 2002 which were operated from Naliya. It is the first operational squadron of the indigenous fighter jet HAL Tejas From 1 July 2016.^[2] The Squadron will operate from Yelahanka Air Base, Bangalore for nearly two years before it moves to its designated locations at Sulur near Coimbatore.^[4] It is also the first fighter Squadron to be part of the Southern Air Command of IAF headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram.

Indo-Pakistan War of 1965

On 1 September 1965, during the Indo-Pakistani War, No. 45 Squadron IAF responded to a request for strikes against a counter-attack by the Pakistani Army (Operation Grand Slam), and twelve Vampire Mk 52 fighter-bombers were successful in slowing the Pakistani advance. However, the Vampires encountered two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-86 Sabres, armed with air-to-air missiles; in the ensuing dogfight, the outdated Vampires were outclassed. One was shot down by ground fire and another three were shot down by Sabres.^[5][6] The Vampires were withdrawn from front line service after these losses.

Atlantique incident

Indian Airforce No.45 Squadron involved in Atlantique incident on 10 August 1999. Two MiG-21Bison from No.45 Squadron IAF intercepted and shot down Pakistani naval reconnaissance plane.^[7][8]

Assignments

• Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
• Atlantique incident

Aircraft

Aircraft Types operated by 45 Squadron^[9]

Aircraft Type	From	To
de Havilland Vampire	June 1957	N/A
Mig-21	N/A	2002
HAL Tejas	July 2016	Till Date

References

1. "First squadron of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas inducted into IAF in Bengaluru". Firstpost. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
2. "HAL Tejas supersonic fighter jets inducted into Indian Air Force". The Times of India. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
3. "History of IAF". IAF.
4. "IAF begins establishing first LCA squadron." Deccan Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2016. Archived 20 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
5. Pakistani Air-to-Air Victories, Air Combat Information Group, 2003, retrieved 10 June 2009.
6. (Retd), Air Marshal Trilochan Singh PVSM AVSM VrC VM. "Tank Busting In The Chamb - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.
7. "The Atlantique Incident". 1999 Kargil Operations. Bharat Rakshak Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
8. IAF Scores a Kill !!! Factual Account of Interception – Indian Air Force official page Retrieved on 26 July 2007
9. Pillarisetti, Jagan. "No.7 Squadron - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.