Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria today said the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs to be alert at all times amid the "present security environment in the neighbourhood". Addressing IAF personnel and their families on the 87th birth anniversary of the Air Force, he said all "Air Warriors should serve with great integrity at all times". The Indian Air Force (IAF) is celebrating its 87th birth anniversary with a grand event at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad. The day is significant for another reason - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will take delivery of India's newest multirole fighter jet Rafale in France today. At Hindon, several IAF transport planes, helicopters and fighter jets are participating in a flypast with Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria in attendance. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat attended the event.
Here are the live updates from IAF Day celebrations:
- Cricket legend and honorary Group Captain Sachin Tendulkar attended the Indian Air Force (IAF) Day celebrations at Hindon Air Force Station.
- He attended the event with his wife Anjali Tendulkar and was greeted by the Air Force officers.
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.
This #AirForceDay, the nation salutes our brave air warriors, who through their selfless service and dedication ensure the safety and security of our country.
- Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) October 8, 2019
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/Kk1pqIOCy3
Today, on #AirForceDay, I salute our brave & courageous air warriors who guard our skies so we can stay safe & happy on the ground.
- Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) October 8, 2019
Let's also be grateful to their families who have always stood by them.
Their dedication & patriotism keeps the 🇮🇳 flying high, always!@IAF_MCC
What an amazing memory! Our Air Warriors are second to none!#IndanAirFirceDay2019 #IndianAirForceDay #AirForceDay
- Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 8, 2019
🇮🇳 https://t.co/Ip7y20gkDI pic.twitter.com/RrbQ3rVLAS
- Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saluted the commitment, bravery and patriotism of our Air Force.
On the raising day of Indian Air Force, I salute the commitment, bravery & patriotism of our Air Force. #AirForceDay pic.twitter.com/wjiq2YtMRI
- Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 8, 2019
- Indian Air Force officers who participated in Balakot airstrike, fly 3 Mirage 2000 aircraft and 2 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in 'Avenger formation', at Hindon Air Base during the event on Air Force Day.
#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
- Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman leads a 'MiG formation' and flies a MiG Bison Aircraft at Hindon Air Base on Air Force Day today.
#WATCH Ghaziabad: Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman leads a 'MiG formation' and flies a MiG Bison Aircraft at Hindon Air Base on #AirForceDay today. pic.twitter.com/bRpgW7MUxu
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 8, 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.
- Visuals of Chinook aircraft in Air Force Day flypast
#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
Major Shift In Government's Way Of Handling Terrorism, Says Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria On Balakot AirstrikeAir Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria today referred to the suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in February as a reminder that defence installations need to be on alert at all times. At the celebration of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) 87th birthday celebrations, the IAF chief the "present security environment in the neighbourhood is a serious cause of concern", news agency ANI reported.
- We are always prepared for all contingencies.
- IAF provided relief and rescue operations during contingencies.
- Improved training methodology for pilots, technicians
- Duty to remain combat worthy
- Need to focus on indigenous design and manufacture
- Will promote Indian firms in fleet assistance
- All organs of IAF work with synergy
- Indian Air Force is grateful for 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 and safeguarding our national interest at all cost," said Air Force chief
- Air Chief takes the salute and honours Indian Air Force personnel.
- Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrates 87th anniversary on Air Force Day 2019 at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria present at the event.
- Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria takes salute.
INDIAN AIR FORCE CELEBRATES 87th ANNIVERSARY https://t.co/3fdlRgxUIQ
- Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 8, 2019
On Air Force Day, my heartiest greetings to all IAF personnel and their families. We salute you for serving and protecting the nation. Jai Hind
- Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 8, 2019
Sincere and heart-felt greetings to the @IAF_MCC on their 87th anniversary. Your recent successful operation in Balakot overwhelmed all Indians. Professionalism, great leadership, and excellence are your hallmark. Wishing you every success in the future too.
- Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) October 8, 2019
- The air display commenced with flag-bearing sky divers of the famous Akash Ganga team dropping out of an AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies.
- The India Air Force (IAF) is celebrating its 87th birth anniversary today with a grand event at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad.
- The day is significant for another reason - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will take delivery of India's newest multirole fighter jet Rafale in France today.
- He will also be taken for a spin in the advanced jet made by France's Dassault Aviation at the handover ceremony in Merignac in France.
- At Hindon, several IAF transport planes, helicopters and fighter jets will participate in a flypast with Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria in attendance.
- "Greetings to all @IAF_MCC personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day. The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation. These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory," the Defence Minister tweeted this morning.
- The air display will start with flag-bearing sky divers of the Akash Ganga team dropping out of an AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies.
- The IAF will showcase its Chinook heavy-lift twin-rotor transport helicopter and the Apache attack helicopters for the first. Both these helicopters were acquired from the US and inducted into the IAF in the last few months.
- The flypast will include several helicopters and planes, starting with the Chinook and the Apache, and ending with a spectacular manoeuvre by the Russian-origin multirole fighter jet Sukhoi-30MKI.
- A flypast of vintage planes including the Dakota that had served the IAF for over 40 years will be carried out over Hindon. The Dakota DC-3 aircraft of the 1940s was used till 1988. It was one of the most versatile transport aircraft of its time.
- The Indian Air Force was set up on October 8, 1932. When it was formed, it had a strength of only six Royal Air Force-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers). The aircraft inventory comprised four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes, according to the IAF on its website.
- Rajnath Singh will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today as he takes delivery of the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft that India bought from France. He will perform a "Shastra Puja" on Dussehra, which falls today.
- "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," Mr Singh tweeted after he arrived in Paris on Monday.
- While the formal handover ceremony takes place today, the first batch of four Rafale jets will fly to their home base in India by May 2020.
- The Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004. The Rafale jets intended for India are expected to come with certain modifications for the IAF and have been awaited as a crucial enhancement to India's Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft fleet.
- The handover ceremony will be followed by the annual Indo-French Defence Dialogue between Mr Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly in Paris on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, the Defence Minister is scheduled to address CEOs representing French defence firms.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Reaches France To Receive First Rafale Aircraft: 10 PointsDefence Minister Rajnath Singh landed in France today for a three-day visit, during which he will receive the first of the 36 long-awaited Rafale fighter jets on behalf of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is also expected to undertake a sortie in the aircraft and hold discussions with the country's top leadership during his time in the European country. "Greetings to all @IAF_MCC personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day. The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation. These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory," the Defence Minister tweeted this morning as the IAF celebrates Air Force Day in Hindon near Delhi.
Greetings to all @IAF_MCC personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day. The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation.
- Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 8, 2019
These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory.
- 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 in Delhi on the occasion of Indian Force Day.
- 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."
- On October 6, IAF had tweeted, "#AFDay19 : As the Indian Air Force prepares to celebrate the 87th anniversary of its birth, the Air-warriors of IAF are getting ready for the ceremonial parade as part of celebrations at Air Force Station Hindan. Come & witness the grand Parade. Two days to GO!!!"
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
#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
Air Force Day 2019: On IAF's Big Day, Here Are Some Top Aircraft Taking Part At Grand FlypastToday is a big day for the Indian Air Force. It's the IAF's 87th birth anniversary, and India will induct its newest multirole fighter jet Rafale into the Air Force at a handover ceremony in Merignac in France. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in France, will take delivery of the first Rafale made by French firm Dassault Aviation.
- Today is a big day for the Indian Air Force. It's the IAF's 87th birth anniversary, and India will induct its newest multirole fighter jet Rafale into the Air Force at a handover ceremony in Merignac in France. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in France, will take delivery of the first Rafale made by French firm Dassault Aviation.
- As part of its 87th birth anniversary celebrations on Air Force Day, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will attend a grand flypast by the IAF's transport planes, helicopters and fighter jets at Hindon Air Force Station in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, near Delhi.
- The IAF will showcase its Chinook transport and Apache attack helicopters for the first time since they were acquired from the US in the last few months.
- A Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI will perform a spectacular manoeuvre at the end of the flypast.
- Here are some of the aircraft taking part in the flypast: Chinook helicopter, Apache attack helicopter, Hercules transport aircraft, C-17 Globemaster III, Jaguar, MiG-21 Bison, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Sukhoi-30MKI, LCA Tejas,
Air Force Day 2019: Date, Time, Significance, All You Need to Know About 87th IAF DayAir Force Day 2019: IAF or Indian Air Force was founded on October 8, 1932, and the force participated in several crucial wars and landmark missions. The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated to mark its anniversary.
