IAF’s visual treat enthrals audience

A stunning air show by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the headquarters AOC J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday enthralled visitors at the Udhampur-based Air Force Station.

The commemorative event consisted of sorties by different types of fighter aircraft. It included static display of various IAF assets deployed in the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh sectors.

In action were fighter planes like Rafales, SU30MKIs, MIG 29s and Jaguars, assault landing by transport aircraft (130J Super Hercules) besides special operations by helicopters (ALH Druv, Mi17, AH 64E Apache and CH 47 Chinook) and skydiving by the Akashganga Team.

GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Air Marshal S Prabhakaran, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command and Air Vice Marshal P K Vohra, AOC-in-C, Headquarters J&K and Ladakh, were present to witness the air show.

The first of its kind event in Udhampur brought the IAF closer to the hundreds of students from various schools and colleges who attended it.

“The HQ AOC J&K & Ladakh was raised in 1962 and since then its primary role has been to co-ordinate all air operations in J&K & Ladakh,” said Air Marshal Prabhakaran, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command.

He said the AOC played a stellar role during the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars.

In 1999, during the Kargil conflict, Operation Safed Sagar was conducted through this headquarters.

“It continues to provide air maintenance to the entire Northern Army Command across the highest reaches of the Himalayas including the Siachen Glacier,” the Air Marshal said.