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AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND ESTABLISHMENTS

No Unit Type Nickname Motto Motto Translation Raised on First Type CurrentType
1 Sqn Tigers Ekta Me Shakti Strength in Unity 01-Apr-33 Wapiti Mirage 2000
2 Sqn Winged Arrows Amogh Lakshya True to Aim 01-Apr-41 Wapiti MiG-27
3 Sqn Cobras Lakshya Ved Destroy target with Precision 01-Oct-41 Audax MiG-21Bison
4 Sqn Oorials Maan Par Jaan Death over Dishonour 01-Feb-42 Lysander MiG-21Bis
5 Sqn Tuskers Shakti Vijayate Strength is Victorious 02-Nov-48 Liberator B24 Jaguar IS
6 Sqn Dragons Sada Satark Always Alert 01-Dec-42 Hurricane Jaguar IM
7 Sqn Battle Axes Shatrunjay Vanquish the enemy 01-Dec-42 Vengeance Mirage 2000
8 Sqn Eight Pursoots Surakshya Va Akraman Offense is Defence 01-Dec-42 Vengeance MiG-21FL
9 Sqn Wolfpack Sahase Wasati Jayashrih In Courage resides Victory 04-Jan-44 Hurricane MiG-27
10 Sqn Winged Daggers Yudhyay Kritanishchayam Into War with Determination 20-Feb-44 Hurricane MiG-27
11 Sqn Charging Rhinos Vishwambhara Pranadah Supporters of the Universe 15-Nov-51 Dakota C47 HS-748
12 Sqn Yaks Amit Vikram ? 01-Dec-45 Dakota C47 An-32
14 Sqn Bulls Balam Jayay Strength will Conquer 15-Aug-51 Spitfire Jaguar IS
15 Sqn Flying Lances Nihantavya Shatrava Anhillate the Enemy 20-Aug-51 Spitfire MiG-21Bis
16 Sqn Black Cobras Praharodata Ready to Strike ??-???-51 Spitfire Jaguar IS
17 Sqn Golden Arrows Udayam Ajasram ? ??-Dec-54 Hunters MiG-21M
18 Sqn Flying Bullets Theevra Aur Nirbhay Swift and Fearless 15-Apr-65 Gnat MiG-27
19 Sqn ? ? ? 01-Aug-60 C119 Packet -
20 Sqn Lightning Vegvankutobhayah Fast and Furious 01-Jan-56 Vampire F52 Su-30
21 Sqn Ankush Siddhivasti Saha Se Success lies in courage 16-Oct-65 Gnat MiG-21 Bis
22 Sqn Swifts Sahase Vijayate Courage Triumphs 15-Oct-66 Gnat MiG-21 Bis
23 Sqn Panthers Amrithambhayam ? ? Vampire F52 MiG-21 Bis
24 Sqn Hawks Navijitya Nivartanam No Return without Conquest 16-Feb-62 Vampire F52 Su-30
25 Sqn Himalayan Eagles ? Saviors of the North 01-Mar-63 An-12 Il-76/An-32
26 Sqn Warriors Yudhyasva Vigatha Jwar Wage war with all efforts 01-Jan-68 Su-7 MiG-21Bis
27 Sqn Flaming Arrows Durarakshya Saralakshya Strike far, Strike Sure 15-Feb-57 Vampire F52 Jaguar IS
28 Sqn First Supersonics Sanharancha Karothi Ya Determined to Destroy 23-Mar-63 MiG-21 MiG-29
29 Sqn Scorpions Sadaiv Sachet Ever Alert 10-Mar-58 Toofani MiG-27
30 Sqn Rhinos ? Boundless Valor 01-Nov-69 MiG-21FL Mig-21FL
31 Sqn Lions  Shatru Chhidrey Prahret A Kill with every blow 1-Sep-63 Mystere MiG-23BN
32 Sqn Thunderbirds ? ? ??-Nov-63 Vampire MiG-21Bis
33 Sqn Caribous  ? ? ??-Jan-63 Caribou An-32
35 Sqn Rapiers Drutapraharanayudh ? 10-Aug-58 Canberra MiG-21Bis
37 Sqn Black Panthers Sadaiv Nirbhik Fearless Forever 23-Dec-57 Vampire N54 MiG-21M
41 LAS Sqn Otters Samay Par Sahayta Help on time 1-Mar-58 DHC-3 Otter Do 228
42 Sqn ? ? ? ?-???-63 Illyushin-14 -
43 Sqn Ibex Nabhasa Jivan Dhara Lifeline through the skies 20-Jan-58 C-47 Dakota An-32
44 Sqn Mighty Jets Ishtam Yatnen Sadhyet ? 6-Apr-61 An-12 Il-76
45 Sqn Flying Daggers ? ? ? Vampire MiG-21Bis
47 Sqn Black Archers Karmani Vyaprutham Dhanuhu My bow is ready for  task 18-Dec-59 Toofani MiG-29
48 Sqn Camels ? ? ? Dakota An-32
49 Sqn Paraspears ? ? ? C-119 An-32
51 Sqn Sword Arms Yudhya Mahaspara Bhayankara ? ? MiG-21 MiG-21Bis
52 Sqn Sharks ? ? 1-Jan-86 MiG-21FL MiG-21FL
53 AAF Sqn ? ? ? 1-Jan-56 Tigermoth -
55 AAF Sqn ? ? ? 1-Jan-56 Tigermoth -
59 Sqn Hornbills ? ? ? DHC-3 Otter Do 228
101 Sqn Falcons Anwishyavedhi Search and Destroy 1-May-49 Spitfire MiG-21M
102 PR Sqn Trisonics ? ? 25-Aug-81 MiG-25 MiG-25
103 Sqn ? ? ? ? ? ?
104 Heli Sqn Pioneer Rotarians Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 10-Mar-54 Sikorsky 55 Mi-35
105 HU Daring Eagles ? ? 23-Nov-59 Mi-4 Mi-8
106 SPR Sqn Lynx Sarva Peshayami ? 01-May-57 Canberra Canberra
107 HU Desert Hawks ? ? Jan-60 Bell 47 / S-62 Mi-8
108 Sqn Hawkeyes Shodan Aur Aakraman ? 20-Nov-59 Vampire MiG-21M
109 HU Knights Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 26-Aug-61 Mi-4 Mi-8
110 HU Vanguards ? ? 10-Aug-63 Mi-4 Mi-8
111 HU Snow Tigers Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 01-Aug-63 Mi-4 Chetak
112 HU Throughbreds Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 01-Aug-63 Bell 47 Mi-8
114 HU Siachen Pioneers Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need ? ? Cheetah
115 HU Hovering Angels ? ? 01-Apr-67 ? ?
116 HU Tankbusters ? ? ? ? Chetak
117 HU ? ? ? ? ? ?
118 HU Challengers Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 22-Nov-71 ? Mi-8
119 HU ? ? ? ? ? ?
120 HU ? ? ? ? ? ?
121 HU ? ? ? ? Mi-8 ?
122 Heli Flight Dolphins Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 26-Sep-81 Mi-8 Mi-8
125 Heli Sqn Gladiators ? Sacrifice is jewel of Brave 01-Nov-83 Mi-25 Mi-35
126 HU Featherweights ? ? ? Mi-26 ?
127 HU First Ranas ? Undaunted Undettered 10-Jan-85 Mi-17 Mi-17
128 HU Siachen Tigers ? ? ? ? Mi-17
129 HU Nubra Warriors ? Never Give In 01-Jul-87 Mi-17 Mi-17
130 HU Condors ? We Support LIfe 15-Feb-88 Mi-17 Mi-17IV
131 FAC Flight Airborne Pointers ? Savage and Powerful 02-Aug-74 Cheetah Cheetah
132 FAC Flight Hovering Hawks ? ? 24-Feb-86 Cheetah Cheetah
141 SSS Flight Flamingos Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 1975 Mi-4 Chetak
142 SSS Flight Flying Amphibs Apatsu Mitram A friend in time of need 01-Aug-74 Mi-4 Chetak
152 HU Mighty Armours ? ? ? Mi-17 Mi-17
153 HU Daring Dragons ? ? 01-Nov-88 Mi-17 Mi-17
220 Sqn Desert Tigers Shauryam Tejo Dhritih Valour, Energy and Firmness ? Vampire MiG-23BN
221 Sqn Valiants ? ? ? Vampire MiG-23BN
222 Sqn Tigersharks Vinashaya Dushkrutam Destroyer of Evil 15-Sep-69 Sukhoi-7 MiG-27
223 Sqn Tridents ? ? 10-May-82 MiG-23MF MiG-29
224 Sqn Warlords ? ? 04-Jul-83 MiG-23MF MiG-23MF
- - - - - - - -
TACDE ? Tejas Tejaswi Namaham I am the glory of the glorious ? MiG-21/ Su-7 MiG-27
MOFTU ? Sarva Yudhavisharada All skilled in warfare ? MiG-21FL MiG-21FL
AHQCS Pegasus ? ? ? Various Various
1 TTU ? ? ? ? ? ?
2 TTU Banners ? ? ? ? ?
OCU Young uns ? ? ? MiG-21FL MiG-21FL

Training and Testing Establishments:

Establishment, Location Motto Motto Translation Raised on First Type CurrentType
Flying Instructors School Vidya Dhanen Vardhate Knowledge Multiplies when Imparted      
ASTE ? ? ? Various Various

Note:

Several units may have had short lived predecessors in the IAF. It is not known if some of the units mentioned trace thier lineage back to the older predecessors. Some of the existing unit numbers that were taken up by earlier units include 51,52,53,54,55 which were Auxillary Air Force Squadrons. 102 was a Survey Flight raised on 15-Oct-51 that was merged with 106 SPR Unit in Dec 59. 120, 121 and 122 were Ad-Hoc Squadrons raised during the 1971 War and disbanded soon after. Also several two digit numbers were taken up by SA-2 SAM units when they were first introduced in 1965. It is estimated that nearly 15 SA-2 Squadrons were raised.

Acknowledgements: Rupak Chattopadhyay, Rakesh Koshy, Phil Camp, Simon Watson, Dr. Sanjay Badri Maharaj, Amitabh Dubey, Anandeep Pannu and the Official Indian Air Force Website

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