| 35 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active |
|
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Air Force |
| Role | EW,Air superiority |
| Garrison/HQ | AFS Bakshi Ka Talab (Lucknow) |
| Motto | Drutpraharnayudha "Armed to Strike Fast" |
| Battle honours | |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | ErectRapier |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 |
No. 35 Squadron IAF (Rapiers) was anelectronic warfare andair superiority squadron of theIndian Air Force (IAF). It was based atBakshi Ka Talab Airforce Station, No. 35 Squadron came under theCentral Air Command; and along withNo. 108 Squadron formed an operational wing of the IAF. As of 2017[update], it was equipped with MiG-21M aircraft.[1] The squadron was number plated in 2019.[2]
No. 35 Squadron has as its emblem an erectRapier. Below this crest, on a scroll is inscribed Drutpraharnayudha.
No 35 squadron was raised inPune on 10 August 1958 equipped withCanberra B(I) 58 under the command of Wg Cdr NB Naik.[3] It became the fourth unit to operate the Canberra bomber in the Indian Air Force and was initially tasked with high altitude bombing andinterdiction as well asreconnaissance roles. The unit also appears to have had a secondary responsibility of high altitude weather research.[3] No. 35 Sqn has been involved in all of India's major military operations, from theliberation of Goa toOperation Safed Sagar during theKargil War, when it was deployedKashmir Valley and theRann of Kutch.[3] It was re-equipped with modified Canberra B(I) 58 andMiG-21Ms for dedicatedEW role. In 1978, the unit was moved to AFSBareilly. Since the 1980s, No.35 Squadron has played an important role in collaborating withDRDO in the evaluation of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems and armaments. The unit's Canberra flight was withdrawn in 1997 and re-equipped with EW-equipped MiG-21Ms. The unit also fills an important training role. In 2001 the Squadron phased out it Canberra B(I) 58. The squadron is currently[when?] in the process of upgrading its equipment from the MIG21 BIS aircraft.[4]
In addition to providing support to offensive air operations, the Rapiers play a crucial role in providing flying effort towards EW related training for the IAF's own air defense units and currently operates from Bakshi-Ka-Talab.[5]
The squadron was number plated in 2019. Currently, only 2 MiG-21 Bison squadron remains in service.[2][6]
Thesquadron's first operation was in 1961 during theannexation of Goa[4] when it flew againstDabolim Airport inPortuguese-heldGoa. Flying fromPune, No. 35 was deployed along with No. 16 in the opening missions against the airfield on 18 December when 12 Canberras of No. 35 led by Wg. Cdr. N.B. Menon struck the runway at Dabolim with 1000lbers. The flight was, however, under orders not to strike terminals and facilities.[4] There appears to have been plans for strikes againstDiu Airport, but appears to have been called off due to proximity of friendly forces.[4]
No.35 Sqn's Canberras were first moved north during the confrontation withChina. In the event that no air action was authorized during the conflict in November 1962, no combatsorties were flown by any Canberra units.
The squadron's first sustained combat operations occurred during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965. The squadron then based atHalwara under Wg Cdr AS Bakshi went on alert in late August 1965. Over a ten-day period, beginning 1 September 1965, the squadron flew 69 operationalsorties. The most intense missions against Mauripur, Kasur, and Sargodha being flown between 7 and 13 September. The Squadron flew with distinction (Sqn Ldr JP Gupta earning a Mention-in-Despatches for bombing Kasur).
The war in 1971 provided this young squadron an opportunity to perform to its full potential. During the war, No.35 Sqn's Canberras flew day and night missions on both fronts. A total of 92 operationalsorties amounting to 900 hours were undertaken by the squadron during the conflict. The highlight of war was its bombing of theoil refinery atKarachi - resulting in, according to a recce pilot, "the biggest blaze ever seen over South Asia." While the squadron lost an aircraft and two pilots (Flt Lt SC Sandal and Flt Lt KS Nanda) overKarachi, the raid earned Wg Cdr KK Badhwar a Vir Chakra. Over the course of the conflict the squadron earned oneAti Vishisht Seva Medal, fiveVir Chakras, sixVishisht Seva Medals, oneVayu Sena Medal and threeMention-in-Despatches.
The Squadron went on alert duringOperation Safed Sagar in the summer of 1999. The squadron deployed a flight each to support offensive and defensive operations by Western and South Western Air Command (SWAC). No.35 Sqn's aircraft deployed to bases inKashmir as well as to the Rann of Kutch.
No 35 Sqn was last in news as the unit, which took over the Mig-25 Fleet whenNo. 102 Squadron IAF (Trisonics) was disbanded. The Canberra Flight of 35 Sqn has been dissolved and the Mig21-bis will also be retired over a period of time. No 35 Sqn has been reduced to paper status and the unit will acquire new aircraft and a new role in the near future.
| Aircraft | From | To | Air Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Electric Canberra B(I).58 | 10 August 1958 | February 1990 | AFS Lohegaon[7] |
| MiG-25 R | February 2003 | February 2006 | |
| MiG-21 M | February 1978 | 2001 | AFS Bareilly |
| 2001 | 2019 | AFS Bakshi Ka Talab (Lucknow)[5] |
| Leadership | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Components & commands |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military academies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History & future | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This squadron has been currently moved to Rajasthan sector.
