The Indian Air Force is set to retire its Srinagar-based MiG-21 squadron ‘Sword Arms‘ that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was part of when he had downed an F-16 fight plane of Pakistan a day after the Balakot strike in February 2019, sources stated on Monday. ‘Sword Arms’ is one among its 4 remaining squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jets.
The No. 51 Squadron is to be retired by the tip of September, “as per the plan”, the defence sources stated.
The remaining three squadrons of MiG-21 will be phased out by 2025, they stated.
IAF fighter jets had bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist coaching camp in Balakot on February 26, 2019, almost two weeks after the Pulwama terror assault. Pakistan had retaliated on February 27 by trying to goal Indian army installations.
Varthaman (now Group Captain) had taken to the skies to thwart an aerial assault launched by adversaries and engaged in a dogfight with Pakistani jets throughout aerial fight.
Before his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down, Varthaman had downed the F-16 fighter of Pakistan. He was conferred the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal, on the Independence Day in 2019.
The MiG-21 jets have been inducted into IAF over 4 a long time in the past and lots of of those planes have been misplaced in crashes.
Though the Soviet-era Russian fighter jets have additionally been in information within the final a number of years for a number of crashes inflicting loss of life of pilots, the sources stated “when an IAF aircraft is air-borne, it means it is fully serviceable”.
“Ageing is a factor, but we read reports that even a modern aircraft can crash. A crash can happen due to multiple factors, including weather,” a supply stated.
And, the retiring Srinagar-based No. 51 squadron, also referred to as ‘Sword Arms’, is “happening as per the plan”, he stated, including that the outdated fleet have been in operation additionally as new ones have been awaited.
The No. 51 Squadron or ‘Sword Arms’ is among the adorned squadrons of the IAF, and it participated throughout Op Safed Sagar (Kargil battle) in 1999.
“It was conferred with one Vayu Sena Medal and three Mention-in-Dispatches for its effective contribution. During Operation Parakram, the Squadron was tasked with the Air Defence Of Kashmir Valley,” in accordance to Bharat Rakshak web site.
It was raised at Chandigarh in 1985. The crest of the squadron portrays a pair of muscular arms firmly clasping a sword, depicting the motto “Vijaya Prakrama” which suggests ‘Valour for Victory’, it stated.
For its meritorious and wonderful service to the nation, since its inception, the squadron was awarded the President’s Standards in 2018, the web site says.
