As Rafales Join IAF, All You Need to Know About 'Golden Arrows' Squadron That Will Fly the Jets
The 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire.
As Rafales Join IAF, All You Need to Know About 'Golden Arrows' Squadron That Will Fly the Jets
As The Indian Air Force formally inducts the Rafale aircraft on Thursday into the ‘Golden Arrows’, here's a look at the Ambala-based squadron that will fly these fighter jets. The Golden Arrows was formed in 1951. It was disbanded in 2016 after the Air Force began to phase out MIG-21 which was then being operated by the Golden Arrows.
However, in 2019, the squadron was resurrected in Ambala for Rafale jets and five fighter jets were included in the squadron.
The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. The Golden Arrows has also operated a range of aircrafts such as Harvard- II B from 1951 to 1955. Between 1955 to 1957, it flew the De Havilland Vampire. It operated the Hawker Hunter from 1957-1975 and MIG-21 from 1975-2016.
The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets will be formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on Thursday at the Ambala airbase at a time India is engaged in an escala…
