No. 101 Squadron IAF

No. 101 Squadron
Active	1 May 1949 - January 2011 June 2021 - Present
Country	Republic of India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Role	Fighter
Garrison/HQ	Hasimara AFS
Nickname(s)	"Falcons"
Motto(s)	Anwishyavedhi Search and Destroy
Commanders
Current commander	Group Captain Abhisek Tripathi [1]
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Dassault Rafale

The No. 101 Squadron (Falcons) is an Indian Air Force fighter aircraft squadron which is equipped with the Dassault Rafale and is based at the Hasimara Air Force Station. ^[2]

History

101 Squadron was formed with the specific role of photo reconnaissance. Enjoying the place of pride in the Squadron crest is a trained hunting Falcon, the bird's keen eyesight, quick and sure kill ability symbolises the role for which the Squadron was formed. ^[3]

The squadron was reinstated with Dassault Rafale in June 2021 and was inducted into Hasimara, West Bengal on 28 July 2021. ^{[1] [4]}

Present

The squadron was reinstated in June 2021 with 5 Dassault Rafale in Ambala. The squadron was commissioned in its designated base in Hasimara from 28 July 2021. ^[5]

Assignments

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Aircraft

Aircraft types operated by the squadron ^[6]

Aircraft Type	From	To	Air Base
Harvard	June 1949	February 1957	Palam AFS [6]
Supermarine Spitfire
de Havilland Vampire	February 1957	July 1968	Adampur AFS [6]
Sukhoi Su-7	July 1968	June 1981
MiG-21 M	June 1981	2002	Sirsa AFS [6]
	2002	January 2011	Adampur AFS [6]
Dassault Rafale	28 July 2021	Present	Hasimara AFS [1] [7]

Gallery

• 
  Dassault Rafale of Indian Air Force squadron 101 landing in Hasimara, West Bengal.
• 
  Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria interacting with the Rafale pilots of 101 Sqn.
• 
  Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria during induction ceremony of 101 Squadron.

References

1. Alex Philip, Snehesh (21 April 2021). "Rafale training of IAF pilots in France comes to an end, eyes on 'Lethal 16' next". The Print.
2. "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
3. Pike, John. "Squadron 101". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
4. "INDUCTION CEREMONY OF RAFALE AIRCRAFT INTO 101 SQN ON28 JUL 21". PIB. 28 July 2021.
5. Sagar, Pradeep R (23 June 2021). "IAF raises Rafale squadron at strategic Hasimara air base". The Week.
6. "No.101 Squadron Falcons - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.
7. "IAF's second Rafale squadron to get operational by July 26". ANI. 13 July 2021.