Indian Air Force Day: The world’s fourth largest air force, the Indian Air Force, celebrated its founding day on October 8. The IAF was established in October 1932. With its potent combat fighter jets and helicopters, which include French Rafale fighters, Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI jets, Mig-29 fighters, indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Mig-21, the Indian Air Force is a force to reckon with.
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IAF also has combat and transport helicopters such as Boeing Apache, Boeing Chinook, ALH Dhruva and ALH Rudra. It also has transport aircrafts such as Boeing C-17 Globe Masters, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. The IAF also operates Russian IL-78 mid-air refuelers, and is inducting Airbus C-295 transport aircraft.
The Indian Air Force played crucial role in surrender of Pakistan Army in Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Kargil War of 1999 with Pakistan. With its Rafale and Sukhoi fighters, IAF plays a crucial role in deterrence against Chinese military in Eastern Ladakh region on China border.
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