The Indian Air Force was established on October 8, 1932, by the British Empire and the country is celebrating the 86th Air Force day today. The Indian Air Force (IAF) held a grand parade and also air show displaying combating capabilities of the force. The air show took place at the Air Force Station at Hindon in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. Air Chief Marshal Barinder Singh Dhanoa reviewed the parade. Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat was also present at the celebration at the Hindon Air Base.

The IAF combat aircraft including frontline Sukhois and indigenous-built Tejas displayed their capabilities during the air show. Apart from these, Saranga helicopters were also part of the show. Akash Ganga team of the IAF also showcased its skills during the grand event. Indian Air Force Sends Six-Member Crew To France For Rafale Jets Training

Let’s catch the glimpse of the Air Force day Celebrations:

Currently, the IAF is the fourth most powerful air force in the world behind the United States, Russia and China. Since its formation, it has actively participated in various wars and rescue operations. The IAF has a strength of around 1,30,000 active personnel and has over 1,700 aircraft out which approximately 900 are combat ready aircraft. Gagan Shakti 2018: Indian Air Force Conducted Battalion Level AirDrop as Part of Exercise from Hindon Airbase, Watch Video

The four-star officer with the rank of Air Chief Marshal leads the force, while Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF) rank is an honorary five-star rank conferred by President of India for exceptional service during a war. MIAF is similar to Field Marshal in the Indian Army and the Admiral of the Fleet of the Indian Navy. Till now Arjan Singh was the only IAF officer, who had been conferred with the rank of MIAF, whereas there were two field Marshals in the Army.

The significance of the IAF:

The IAF has played a significant role in various wars and conflicts. Starting from the World War – II till the Kargil War except for the 1962 war against China, where our military planners did not make use of the force to suppress the Chinese aggression due which India faced a heavy defeat in the war. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the first and only Indian Air Force officer to have received the Param Veer Chakra posthumously for his bravery in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Padmavathy Bandopadhyay is the first Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force and the second woman in the Indian armed forces who was promoted to three-star rank, after Indian Army’s Lieutenant General Punita Arora. Avani Chaturvedi is one of India’s first female fighter pilots. She, along with Mohana Singh and Bhawana Kanth, was commissioned into the IAF in June 2016.

In the modern day era, the role of the IAF is very crucial as it has to keep vigil on both eastern and western fronts with China and Pakistan. The force has to be ready all the time to face dual attack in case the war breaks out. In April this year, the IAF conducted its biggest exercise, Gagan Shakti, in which it displayed its might to tackle danger at eastern and western borders at the same time.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2018 10:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).