Photos Indian Armed Forces

Indian Navy Dornier Do-228

Indian Air Force (IAF) History
This is the story of the IAF's 1st heavy bomber & the indigenous jugaad (a flexible approach to problem-solving that uses limited resources in an innovative way) that helped the IAF develop this capability. The need for a Heavy Bomber was 1st felt in mid-1948, when it was decided to raise a training squadron by Oct 48, an operational squadron by Jan 49 & a 2nd operational squadron by Feb 50.


A decision was taken to recover the ex-USAAF & RAF B-24 Liberator bombers abandoned at airfields in India. The 4-engined bomber required a crew of 8-10, had a maximum speed of 290 mph & a range of 2100 miles. The armament included a bomb load of up to 5000 lbs & 10 x .50 cal Browning MGs.


The 'Libby' had made its Indian debut in Nov 42, with the USAAF's 160th Squadron. Soon upgraded with the ASV MKV radar, it began maritime patrols in the area of Rangoon- Bangkok-Andamans. By 1945, there were as many as 10 squadrons in-theatre, besides the 252 (Tpt) Liberator Squadron in Delhi.


After WWII, nearly 100 of these surplus B-24s had found their way to Chakeri, Kanpur. A small team from the IAF & HAL carried out a prelim survey & within a year, over 45 Libbies were sent for repairs. The 1st batch of 6 refurbished Libbies landed at Palam in Nov 48.


From 1947 to 1956, HAL would recover approximate 40 Libbies, including two C-87 freighter variants. On 02 Nov 48, the IAF raised its first Heavy Bomber squadron with the first batch of 6 Libbies. Raised at Kanpur, No 5 Sqn "Tuskers" soon led to Nos 6 & 16 Squadrons also converting to the type.


The two freighters (HE712 & 843) were operated by the IAF's 102 Survey Flite which also flew the C-47 Dakota. On Jun 53, HE712 was to fly over the Everest massif on a photo mission. In Oct 57, the Flt upgraded to Squadron status & moved to Barrackpore, merging with 106 Special Recce Unit.


The last Libbie was withdrawn from service in Jan 69. Given the aircraft's history, some soon found homes across the world. HE733 joined other Warbirds at Rockcliffe near Ottawa, HE777 at the Tuscon Air Museum & HE807 at the RAF Museum. HE924 stayed on at the IAF Museum.

Kharga Sappers rehearsed Combat Engineering tasks of Bridging & Breaching operations. The exercise aimed to ensure victory by swift & decisive operations in developed terrain.

In furtherance of jointness and inter-operability with the Indian Air Force, Lt Gen AK Singh, Army Commander, Southern Command visited Air Force Station, Lohegaon Pune and undertook a familiarization sortie in a Su-30 MKI aircraft piloted by Wing Commander A P Saini.

An IAF contingent will depart tomorrow for Hyakuri Air Base, Japan for the maiden Exercise Veer Guardian 2023 to be held with Japan Air Self Defence Force from 12 to 26 Jan 2023 IAF will participate with four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 Globemasters & an IL-78 tanker.

A "Family Day at Sea "was conducted by Coast Guard Station Vizhinjam. Three ships of Coast Guard namely Anagh, C 441 & C 427 sailed from Vizhinjam with Govt officers,& families of Coast Guard. ICGS Samar, the advanced off shore patrol vessel joined the fleet from Kochi.


Advanced Light Helicopter reached the exercise area from Coast Guard Air Station Kochi. The ships demonstrated Coast Guard capabilities like boarding a pirate ship and catching contraband, firing all armaments, high speed maneuvers etc. The advanced helicopter demonstrated Search and Rescue of man from sea. The helicopter also did vertical replenishment (Vertrep) with ICGS Samar. This is a method of transferring men and material between ship and helicopter at sea.

INS Kadmatt celebrates seven years of service to the nation on 07 January 2023. Commissioned in 2016, the ship is the second of the four indigenous ASW corvettes designed by Indian Naval Design Bureau, and built by GRSE, Kolkata.

Viki History.
A voyage of 40 days & 10600 nm across major waterways of 3 Continents, 5 Seas, 2 Oceans. This day in 2014, INS Vikramaditya berthed at Karwar for the first time. End of one journey, beginning of another.

INS VIKRANT Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1) getting refueled by INS DEEPAK Deepak-Class Fleet Tanker

Sarang Helicopter Display Team

Su-30MkI

Navy Seaking

Dornier Do-228

Seaking

INS SHARADA Sukanya-Class Patrol Vessel

Vajra Corps Defenders of Punjab Siramani Brigade of Panther Division carried out training exercise to ameliorate the battle drills and procedures in the face of war.

T-72 CIA

Vajra Corps Defenders of Punjab Double Victory Sappers Training to enhance combat potential and mobility.

SSBS


T-72 CIA with Mine Rollers

Exercise Veer Guardian 2022

INS Kirpan celebrates 32 years of service to the nation on 12 January 2023. Commissioned in 1991, the ship is the first of the Khukri class corvettes built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

Sukhoi Su-30MKI