No. 23 Squadron IAF

Last updated

No. 23 Squadron
IAF No. 23 Squadron.jpg
Active1957 - 2025
Country Flag of India.svg Republic of India
BranchAir Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force
Role Fighter
Garrison/HQ AFS NAL
Nickname"Panthers"
MottosAmritham Abhayam
Immortal and Fearless
Aircraft flown
Fighter MiG-21 Bison

No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) was a fighter squadron in the Indian Air Force and it was equipped with MiG-21Bison, based at AFS NAL. The Squadron was number-plated on 26 September 2025, following the decommissioning of MIG-21 Bison from active service. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The squadron was raised in the year 1956 and it became the first squadron in Indian Air Force to be commissioned with Folland Gnat. [3]

The squadron was relocated to AFS NAL in June 2024 and will be in use with its sister squadron No. 3 Squadron. The move was done to streamline the maintenance and operability of the MiG-21. Both the squadrons will transition to the newly ordered Tejas Mk1A. [2]

The Indian Air Force officially decommissioned the MiG-21 Bison from active service in 2025. An official farewell ceremony was held at Chandigarh Air Force Station on 26 September 2025. The last of the aircraft are from this squadron. [4]

Assignments

Aircraft

AircraftFromToAir Base
de Havilland Vampire November 1956January 1960
Folland Gnat February 1960January 1978
MiG-21 bis February 1978July 2005
MiG-21 Bison July 2005June 2024 AFS Suratgarh
June 202426 September 2025 AFS NAL

References

  1. ↑ "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 Singh, Rahul (28 June 2024). "IAF relocates MiG-21s to Nal base as it prepares to replace the fleet". Hindustan Times.
  3. ↑ @IAF_MCC (1 October 2020). "No 23 Sqn 'Panthers' raised in the year 1956, went on to become the first 'Gnat' squadron of IAF. The Sqn in 196 5War achieved its first aerial kill & earned the title SabreSlayers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ Pubby, Manu (22 July 2025). "From warhorse to legend: MiG-21 to bow out after 62 years in Indian skies". The Economic Times. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "How-Indian-Air-Force-Came-of-Age-in-1965". New Ind Express. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
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