Defence

NAVY OPERATIONALIZES FIRST BATCH OF WOMEN PILOTS The first batch of women pilots of Indian Navy have been operationalized on Dornier Aircraft by the Southern Naval Command (SNC) at Kochi. The three women pilots were part of the six pilots of the 27th Dornier Operational Flying Training  (DOFT) Course, who graduated as ‘Fully operational Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) Pilots’ at a passing out ceremony held at INS Garuda, Kochi on 22 Oct 20. Rear Admiral Antony George, VSM, NM, Chief Staff Officer (Training) of SNC was the chief guest of the event and presented awards to the pilots who are now fully qualified on Dornier aircraft for all operational missions. The three women pilots of first batch are Lieutenant Divya Sharma (from Malviya Nagar, New Delhi), Lieutenant Shubhangi Swaroop (from Tilhar, Uttar Pradesh) and Lieutenant Shivangi (from Muzaffarpur, Bihar). These officers had initially undergone basic flying training partly with Indian Air Force and partly with the Navy prior to DOFT course. Amongst the three women pilots operationalized for MR flying, Lt Shivangi was the first to qualify as a naval pilot on 02 Dec 2019. The course comprised of one month of ground training phase, which was conducted at various professional schools of SNC and eight months of flying training at the Dornier Squadron of SNC, INAS 550.Lt Divya Sharma & Lt Shivam Pandey were adjudged ‘First in Flying’ and ‘First in Ground’ subjects, respectively. The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (South) rolling trophy in memory of late Lt Simon George Pynomootil for the ‘Most spirited trainee’ was presented to Lt Kumar Vikram. This trophy was instituted on18 Jun 2019during the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of INAS 550 to immortalize the spirit of the officer who was a qualified Islander pilot and lost his life in a fatal air crash whilst serving the squadron on 17 May 1985.  

The Indian Air Force Day was celebrated on 8th October 2020 with the IAF  marking its 88th anniversary proudly. The hallmark of the Air Force Day Parade at Air Force Station Hindon (Ghaziabad) was the  scintillating air show of different aircraft in presence of IAF chief and senior officials of the three armed forces. These celebrations include an air display where the most crucial and vintage aircraft put up a magnificent show. Indian Air Force Day Theme The Indian Armed Forces are mainly responsible for protecting Indian airspace and carrying out aerial warfare during armed conflicts. In the nation, it ranks as the fourth largest air force. Operation Poomalai, Operation Cactus, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Vijay are among the main operations of the Indian Air Force. History of Indian Air Force Day Indian Air Force Day was first observed in the year 1932. It is commended with incredible energy and intensity at different Air Stations everywhere throughout the nation. The enactment of the IAF Act 1932 marked the auxiliary status and enforced the adoption of the Royal Air Force uniforms, badges, and brevets. On April 1st, 1933, the IAF commissioned IAF’s first squadron, No.1 Squadron, with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian pilots. The Indian pilots were led by British RAF Commanding officer Flight Lieutenant.   About Indian Air Force (IAF) Founded on: 8 October 1932 Headquarters: New Delhi Part of: Indian Armed Force Motto: Touch the Sky with Glory Indian Air Force is also known as “Bhartiya Vayu Sena”. It is the air wing of the Indian Armed Forces. IAF was officially established on 8 October 1932. It was set up as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which brought honour to India’s aviation service during the Second World War (WWII) with the prefix Royal. After India gained its independence in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force served in the name of Dominion of India. In 1950, with the government’s transition to a Republic, the prefix Royal was removed. IAF was involved in a war with Pakistan and China since 1950. The air force is divided into five operational and two functional commands. Each command is supervised by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal. The purpose of an operational command is to conduct military operations using aircraft within its area of responsibility, and functional command’s responsibility is to maintain combat readiness.

Dr. Mark T. Esper, Hon’ble Secretary of Defence of the United States of America is visiting India for the 2+2 Ministerial Meeting.  Today Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri had a bilateral meeting with him in South Block, New Delhi. The two ministers reviewed bilateral defence cooperation spanning military to military cooperation, secure communication systems and information sharing, defence trade and industrial issues and also discussed ways to take bilateral cooperation forward. Both the Ministers expressed satisfaction at the close engagements between the respective Armed Forces. They discussed potential new areas of cooperation, both at Service to Service level and at the joint level. They called for continuation of existing defence dialogue mechanisms during the pandemic, at all levels, particularly the Military Cooperation Group (MCG). They also discussed requirements of expanding deployments of liaison officers.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Flight Safety Trophy has been instituted to promote the efforts towards flight safety among Indian Army Aviation Corps units tendering decisive combat edge to the force commanders. This trophy is presented to Squadron, Independent flights adjudged first amongst units of Army Aviation Corps in aspects related to ensuring and promoting flight safety. Army Aviation being a highly technical arm which operates in the third dimension, flight safety assumes paramount importance in both peace and operations. This award includes assessment by field formation commanders, accident / incident record of the unit maintenance norms, implementation of practices and recordable deeds directly enhancing flight safety. For the year 2019-20, 663 Army Aviation Squadron deployed in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has been adjudged first. This Squadron is one of the oldest Squadrons of Army Aviation and has been actively involved in operation along the line of control and counter insurgency settings in Kashmir valley. Chief of Army Staff, Gen MM Naravane presented the COAS, Flight Safety Trophy to Commanding Officer &Subedar Major of the unit on the concluding day of the Army Commanders’ Conference. ( News Received from PIB Syndicate)