No. 20 Squadron IAF
No. 20 Squadron (Lightnings) is a fighter squadron. It is equipped with Sukhoi Su-30MKI and based at Lohegaon Air Force Station, Pune.[1]
| No. 20 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 June 1956 - Present |
| Country | Republic of India |
| Branch | Indian Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Garrison/HQ | Lohegaon Air Force Station |
| Nickname(s) | "Lightnings" |
| Motto(s) | Vegvankutobhayah Swift and Fearless |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Sukhoi Su-30MKI |
History
The Lightnings stuck with tremendous impact during the December 1971 operations. A decade later, No. 20 Squadron were chosen to form the IAF's formation aerobatic team given the appellation of "Thunderbolts".[2]
The IAF's most decorated squadron, No.20 Lightnings, was re-commissioned from its number plated status to operational status.[3] Its pilots and crews were mainly drawn from the first Sukhoi squadron, No. 24 Squadron IAF 'Hunting Hawks,' and have considerable experience on the type. This squadron is considered one of the parent squadrons of the Sukhoi 30 MKI in the IAF. Also the No.20 Squadron played an important role in making the Flankers fully operational in the Indian Air Force.
Aircraft
Aircraft types operated by the squadron[3][4]
| Aircraft Type | From | To | Air Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland Vampire FB52 | 1 June 1956 | May 1959 | AFS Halwara |
| Hawker Hunter Mk 56 | May 1959 | 1965 | AFS Palam |
| 1965 | February 1968 | AFS Hindon | |
| Hawker Hunter Mk 56A | February 1968 | July 1996 | AFS Pathankot |
| Mig-21 FL | March 1996 | 1975 | |
| 1975 | January 1998 | ||
| Mig-21 Bison | August 2004 | May 2005 | |
| Sukhoi Su-30 MKI | January 2002 | Present | AFS Lohegaon |
References
- ^ "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ^ "Lancer Publishers Online Bookshop".
- ^ a b Pillarisetti, Jagan (2 April 2015). "When Lightning Strikes!". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "No.20 Squadron - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 27 June 2021.