October 8th is commemorated as Indian Air Force Day. Numerous nations of the world hold a yearly Armed Forces Day to identify, esteem, and tribute their military forces. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. The Indian Air Force was legitimately well-known on 8 October 1932. The chief dependability of Indian Air Force is to safe Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare throughout a conflict.
The IAF was a small group of six officer, nineteen airmen and four Wapiti aircraft. Now it is the fourth largest air force in the World after US, Russia and China. On 1 April 1933 first flight of the IAF the 'A' flight took off. IAF personnel consisted of five pilots and one equipment officer and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers) and its aircraft was four Westland Wapiti IIA arms, which was in Karachi (Pakistan). The Air Force first war was on 01 Oct 1937 in Waziristan for Army Co-operation missions against Tribal. 'A' Flight flew 1400 operational hours.
History of the Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force was established in British India as an auxiliary air force of the Royal Air Force with the enactment of the Indian Air Force Act 1932 on 8 October that year and adopted the Royal Air Force uniforms, badges, brevets and insignia. On 1 April 1933, the IAF commissioned its first squadron, No.1 Squadron, with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian pilots. The Indian pilots were led by Flight Lieutenant (later Air vice Marshal) Cecil Bouchier. Until 1938, No. 1 Squadron remained the only squadron of the IAF, though two more flights were added.
Since independence, the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighboring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay the invasion of Goa, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Cactus. Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.
On this day various programmes are being held:
IAF was founded on October 08, 1932 as a tactical force. Indian Air Force majestic displays of MIG-21s, MIG-29s, Jaguars, Mirage 2000s, and Sukhoi-30 MkIs and helicopters. On this auspicious day at Hindon airbase, near to the national capital, New Delhi was marked by aerobatics performance by Sarang Advanced Light Helicopter team followed by synchronized low level maneuvering by the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT). This show was coordinated by five different Air Bases which were Ambala, Halwara and Adampur of New Delhi based Western Air Command.
Indian Air Force: Launch of Air Force Network (AFNET) for Indian Air Force
This year Indian Air force is going to launch an Air force Network. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will launch a modern state-of-the-art digital information grid with the launch of Air Force Network (AFNET) next week. The Indian Air Force's old communication network set-up using the troop-scatter technology of the 1950s will be reinstated by the launch of AFNET.This AFNETs launch will pave way for the release of radio spectrum. The air force will vacate around 42.5MHz of spectrum of which some parts will be consigned to service providers like Tata Teleservices who have been waiting for the spectrum to roll out services. The spectrum will also be used for 3G services.
Defence Minister, AK Antony will initiate the AFNET services of the IAF at a special function to be held at New Delhi, on Tuesday. Union Telecom Minister, Shri A Raja will also be present. The IAF project is part of the mission to network all three services which comes in the backdrop of an IT Roadmap document of the Defence Ministry stipulating automation, simulated training and mandatory computer proficiency in the services. IAF has taken up consent to create and maintain a guaranteed, dedicated, secure and inter-operable communication network along with allied services to provide real time, instantaneous transfer of information between Sensors, Command and Control (C2) centres and Shooters.
In addition, IAF seeks to use communication network and IT-enabled infrastructure for all further operational, techno-logistics and administrative functions to influence development in this field to enhance efficiency, cost-effectiveness and ease of administration. The IAF is the first amongst the three to comprehensive the project of interlinking major installations throughout the country on a high bandwidth network while all the three services are engaged in large scale automation and computer-based networking,. All major formations and static establishments are linked through a secure Wide Area Network (WAN) and are accessible through data communication lines. The countrywide programme was commenced by the IAF in collaboration with the private industry to accelerate the use of Information Technology (IT) as well as to link all field units using a dedicated satellite.
Using Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) AFNET incorporates the latest traffic transportation technology in form of IP (Internet Protocol) packets over the network. A large VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) layer with stern eminence of service enforcement will assist robust, high quality voice, video and conferencing solutions. AFNET will prove to be an effective force multiplier for intelligence analysis, mission planning and control, post-mission feedback and related activities like maintenance, logistics and administration.
Ample designs with multi-layer security protection for "Defence in Depth" have been planned by incorporating encryption technologies, Intrusion Prevention Systems to ensure the resistance of the IT system against information manipulation and eavesdropping.
Officers and air combatants of the Indian Air Force (IAF) took part in a full dress rehearsal on Thursday ahead of the 79th Air Force Day celebrations to be held on October 8. An awe-inspiring flying display by combat and transport aircraft as well as helicopters from the Sarang squadron spellbound the audience. Among the aircraft, which contribute in the spectacular air show, were MIG-21s, MIG-29s, Jaguars, Mirage 2000s, and Sukhoi-30 MkIs with the pilots displaying their inimitable skills of formation flights.
The entire air show was synchronized with precision from five diverse bases such as Ambala, Halwara and Adampur known as the No. 7 Wing, No.9 Wing and No.8 Wing of IAF functioning under the Western Air Command.
The IAF was outlined on October 8, 1932 as a secondary Air Force of the British Indian Empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during the World War II. From the time of independence, the IAF has participated in three wars with neighboring Pakistan as well as the Kargil conflict and one with China. Additional chief operations undertaken by the IAF embrace Operation Vijay - the invasion of Goa, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Cactus. Away from each other from these conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Congo and several other places around the globe.