Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 8
Indian Air Force units that were in the forefront during the crisis with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and also during the air strike in Balakot in February 2019 have been decorated with ‘unit citation’ by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Air Force day on Friday.
Those awarded include a unit of the MiG 29 jets based at Adampur, Punjab, an attack helicopter unit based at Jodhpur and an air defence missile unit based in Kashmir.
The 47 Squadron of the IAF that flies the MiG-29 Upgrade aircraft has been awarded for its twin roles. First, for its air defence deployments after the pre-emptive strikes by the IAF on Balakot in February 19. “The Squadron flew extensively and maintained a constant vigil to ensure that there were no misadventures by our adversaries,” said the citation.
Second, MiG29s were deployed to target ground operations in the northern sector in May 2020 and carried out extensive operations at high altitude.
The 116 Helicopter Unit that flies the Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra was deployed in forward bases along the border with Pakistan to counter threats of slow-moving aerial platforms ndash; UAVs. In May 2020, after the Galwan skirmish, the unit was deployed for offensive operations at a high-altitude airfield in the Ladakh area. “The Unit quickly established the first-ever high-altitude attack helicopter detachment in the region and executed day-and-night operations,” read the citation.
The last unit to be awarded is surface-to-air guided weapon firing unit. The ‘2255 Squadron’ is a frontline IAF unit located in the AOR with the role of ensuring Air Defence in Kashmir and Ladakh sectors. The Squadron was mobilised for Air Defence activation in Ladakh in response to the Galwan standoff in the last week of June. “The Squadron has undertaken various innovations to sustain serviceability and reliability of its equipment. This has enabled it to maintain its operational readiness in harsh climatic conditions, even through the harsh winter of Ladakh,’ read the citation.
IAF unit in Punjab’s Adampur, 2 others get citation for LAC role
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