No. 20 Squadron IAF

Last updated

No. 20 Squadron
Active1 June 1956 - Present
Country Flag of India.svg Republic of India
BranchAir Force Ensign of India (2023).svg  Indian Air Force
Role Fighter
Garrison/HQ Lohegaon Air Force Station
Nickname(s)"Lightnings"
Motto(s)Vegvankutobhayah
Swift and Fearless
Engagements
Aircraft flown
Attack Sukhoi Su-30MKI

No. 20 Squadron (Lightnings) is a fighter squadron. It is equipped with Sukhoi Su-30MKI and based at Lohegaon Air Force Station, Pune. [1]

Contents

History

The Lightnings stuck with tremendous impact during the December 1971 operations. A decade later, No. 20 Squadron were chosen to form the IAF's formation aerobatic team given the appellation of "Thunderbolts". [2]

The IAF's most decorated squadron, No.20 Lightnings, was re-commissioned from its number plated status to operational status. [3] Its pilots and crews were mainly drawn from the first Sukhoi squadron, No. 24 Squadron IAF 'Hunting Hawks,' and have considerable experience on the type. This squadron is considered one of the parent squadrons of the Sukhoi 30 MKI in the IAF. Also the No.20 Squadron played an important role in making the Flankers fully operational in the Indian Air Force.

Aircraft

Aircraft types operated by the squadron [3] [4]

Aircraft TypeFromToAir Base
de Havilland Vampire FB52 1 June 1956May 1959 AFS Halwara
Hawker Hunter Mk 56 May 19591965 AFS Palam
1965February 1968 AFS Hindon
Hawker Hunter Mk 56A February 1968July 1996 AFS Pathankot
Mig-21 FL March 19961975
1975January 1998
Mig-21 Bison August 2004May 2005
Sukhoi Su-30 MKI January 2002Present AFS Lohegaon

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References

  1. ↑ "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Lancer Publishers Online Bookshop".
  3. 1 2 Pillarisetti, Jagan (2 April 2015). "When Lightning Strikes!". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "No.20 Squadron - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 27 June 2021.


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