The No. 45 Squadron Indian Air Force (Flying Daggers) is a Fighter Squadron internally based at Sulur AFS, Tamil Nadu. The squadron operates the indigenous HAL Tejas MK1 IOC fighter from 1 July 2016. The squadron was initially based in Bangalore, Karnataka, and later shifted to its main base in Sulur from 1 June 2018. The squadron was raised on 15 February 1957, with de Havilland Vampires, as a Ground-Attack and Close Air Support unit. Later The Vampires were replaced by MiG-21Bison.
Indo-Pakistan War of 1965On 1 September 1965, during the Indo-Pakistani War, No. 45 Squadron IAF responded to a request for strikes against a counter-attack by the Pakistan Army (Operation Grand Slam), and twelve Vampire Mk 52 fighter-bombers were successful in slowing the Pakistani advance. However, the Vampires encountered two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-86 Sabres, armed with air-to-air missiles; the outdated Vampires were outclassed in the ensuing dogfight. One was shot down by the ground fire and another three were shot down by Sabres. The Vampires were withdrawn from front-line service after these losses.
Atlantique Incident
Indian Air Force No.45 Squadron was involved in the Atlantique incident on 10 August 1999. Two MiG-21 Bison from No.45 Squadron IAF intercepted and shot down a Pakistan Air Force naval reconnaissance plane.
No.18 Squadron (Flying Bullets)
No. 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets), is an air-defence unit of the Indian Air Force, flying from Sulur Air Force Station. The squadron is equipped with indigenous HAL Tejas in FOC configuration. The squadron was formed on 15 April 1965, with five Folland Gnats and eleven pilots, it operated out of Srinagar AFS. Although it existed during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, it did not officially participate in the conflict.
It got number plated on April 15, 2016, after the Mig-27 aircraft it was flying then were retired. The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year, at Sulur.
The No. 18 squadron saw active combat during the 1971 war.
On 7 December, Bopaya and Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon escorted another raid into the Poonch sector and strafed enemy positions after the Vampires had delivered their weapons. On the 8th, Raina and Ghuman escorted another raid into Kargil and strafed enemy bunkers after the bombs were delivered.
On 14 December, no patrols had taken place due to poor visibility. On seeing enemy Sabres in the sky, Ghuman and Sekhon were scrambled, without any Air Traffic Controller clearance. The Sabres successfully bombed the runway and turned back. Sekhon chased them and moved out of sight of Ghuman and the ground controllers. One Sabre was seen going out of control in the sky, but a third Sabre shot him down while Sekhon chased the second. His parachute failed to deploy, and he was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
After the war, in February 1975, the Gnats were phased out and replaced by HAL Ajeets. In May 1989, when the squadron was at Hindon, they were replaced with MiG 27s. Its former role of Air Defence was changed to Ground-attack.