India’s Air Force celebrated its 94th anniversary at Hindon Air Force Station on October 8. Outgoing chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh used the occasion to stress operational readiness, joint planning and cooperation in space.
India’s Air Force marked its 94th anniversary at Hindon Air Force Station on October 8 with a display of historic aircraft and a speech by outgoing chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on readiness, joint operations and the growing role of space. The ceremony paired a vintage Tiger Moth aerobatic display with a showcase of the service’s aircraft and equipment.
The Indian Air Force was established on October 8, 1932, as an auxiliary force of the British Empire. Its first operational flight took place on April 1, 1933, with six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys flying four Westland Wapiti IIA biplanes. The group formed the nucleus of the ‘A’ Flight at Drigh Road in Karachi and helped establish the planned No. 1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron. The current fleet includes Russian Sukhois, French Rafale and Mirage fighters, indigenous Tejas jets and U.S.-built Globemaster and Super Hercules transport aircraft.
The Tiger Moth display lasted about 15 minutes. Pilots Wing Commander Shishir Arora and Grp Capt Amit Dhopawka flew the aircraft before hundreds of spectators, including Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, General Dhiraj Seth and Admiral K Swaminathan. Built by de Havilland Aircraft Company in the 1930s, the Tiger Moth served as the IAF’s primary basic trainer from 1939 to 1957. The service operated 140 of the aircraft and kept one after the type was phased out.
The outgoing chief arrived at the base in a white 1960s Ford Galaxie V8 bearing registration IAF 1. The classic car was used as an official staff vehicle for IAF chiefs on special occasions. The service displayed combat aircraft and weapons, including equipment associated with Operation Sindoor. A women’s rifle drill team, Shakti, performed synchronised manoeuvres, while a 33-member IAF drummers’ team played and marched.
In his final Air Force Day address as chief, Singh said air power is the primary means of protecting national interests. He added that a force’s strength depends on operational preparedness and how quickly it can act. Singh called for close coordination with the Army and Navy and described space as a natural extension of the air domain, citing the IAF’s growing cooperation with Isro on the Gaganyaan mission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also sent anniversary greetings, praising the service’s personnel and their role in defending India’s airspace. The IAF has supported ground operations, moved troops, artillery and supplies to remote and high-altitude areas, gathered intelligence, monitored borders and provided humanitarian assistance. The ceremony looked back at the force’s history while highlighting its current emphasis on readiness, joint planning and space cooperation.