The Tejas squadron with senior officials of IAF at Air Force Station, Sulur, in Coimbatore.

It has hand-picked aircrew, engineers, logisticians and ground personnel

Precisely two years after the induction of the indigenously developed supersonic fighter aircraft Tejas into its armoury, Flying Daggers or No.45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been shifted from Bangalore to Sulur Air Force Station.

A release issued by Defence Wing of Press Information Bureau on Monday said that Tejas reached an important milestone when it commenced operations from its home base at Air Force Station, Sulur.

Training

“No.45 Squadron has been involved in training of aircrew and technicians since its induction on July 1, 2016 and is now confident of undertaking its operations and maintenance of aircraft from an IAF base directly under an operational Command... On deployment to its home base, the Flying Daggers are now ready and eager to embrace their coveted wartime role towards safeguarding national skies,” said the release.

No.45 Squadron in its new base is commanded by Group Captain S. Dhankhar and has hand-picked aircrew, engineers, logisticians and ground personnel.

Air Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command (SAC), and his wife Asha Bhadauria attended the inauguration pooja conducted at Air Force Station, Sulur.

While SAC based at Thiruvananthapuram was entrusted with the responsibility of integrating the fighter aircraft in IAF’s concept of operations, the Command and Air Force Station, Sulur, worked relentlessly and ensured seamless migration of the Squadron to its home base from Bengaluru in precisely two years.

Mr. Bhadauria congratulated all personnel of the Squadron and lauded the efforts put in by the Operations, Maintenance and Administration Branches of Air Force Station, Sulur, associated with induction of the Tejas aircraft.