South Western Air Command
The South Western Air Command is one of the five operational commands of the Indian Air Force. It was raised in Jodhpur in July 1980 from the No.1 Operations group of the Western Air Command. Its operations sector includes most of Rajasthan, through Gujarat and Saurashtra, as far south as Kutch and Pune. The SWAC moved to its current headquarters in Gandhinagar in May 1998, and incorporates the Indian airbases of Bhuj, Jaisalmer, Naliya, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Uttarlai/Barmer and Pune. It controls air operations in the south western air sector, which includes most of Rajasthan, and south through Gujarat to Saurashtra, and Kutch to Pune. It also operates the forward airbases at Ahmedabad, Nal, Suratgarh and . The SWAC's role has historically been largely of air defence, although it has been reported to have incorporated a strike profile.
South Western Air Command, Indian Air Force | |
---|---|
Emblem of the South Western Air Command | |
Founded | 23 July 1980 |
Country | India |
Branch | Indian Air Force |
Type | Operational Air Command |
Role | Air Defence, Maritime strike role. |
Headquarters | Gandhinagar |
Motto(s) | Sanskrit: Jai Shree Varte Veeramh Victory embraces the brave |
Engagements | Atlantique incident, Bhuj earthquake relief, 2001, Gujarat flood relief, 2005 |
Commanders | |
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief | Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia, VSM[1] |
Notable commanders | Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, VM |
Organization
Squadrons include:
Squadron | Base | Equipment | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
No. 20 Squadron IAF | Lohegaon Air Force Station | Su-30MKI | No. 2 Wing |
No. 30 Squadron IAF | Lohegaon Air Force Station | Su-30MKI | No. 2 Wing |
No. 15 Squadron IAF | Bhuj Air Force Station | Su-30 MKI | No. 27 Wing |
No. 32 Squadron IAF | Jodhpur Air Force Station | Mig-21 | No.32 Wing |
No. 31 Squadron IAF | Jodhpur Air Force Station | Su-30 MKI | No.32 Wing |
No. 107 Helicopter Unit, IAF | Jodhpur Air Force Station | Mi-8 | No. 32 Wing |
No. 116 Helicopter Unit, IAF | Jodhpur Air Force Station | HAL Chetak | No. 32 Wing |
No. 119 Helicopter Unit, IAF | Jodhpur Air Force Station | Mi-8 | No. 32 Wing |
No. 6 Squadron IAF | Jamnagar Air Force Station | JaguarIS/IM/IB | No. 33 Wing |
No. 28 Squadron IAF | Jamnagar Air Force Station | Mig 29 | No.33 Wing |
No. 141 SSS Flight, IAF | Jamnagar Air Force Station | HAL Chetak | No. 33 Wing IAF |
No. 23 Squadron IAF | Suratgarh Air Force Station | Mig-21 | No. 35 Wing IAF |
No. 104 Helicopter Squadron, IAF | Suratgarh Air Force Station | Mi-35 | No. 35 Wing |
No. 11 Squadron IAF | Vadodara Air Force Station | Avro 748M | No. 36 Wing |
No. 44 Squadron IAF | Nagpur Air Force Station | Il-76MD | No. 44 Wing |
No. 4 Squadron IAF | Uttarlai Air Force Station | Mig-21 | No. 5 FBSU |
References
External links
- Bharat-Rakshak.com, IAF COMMAND STRUCTURE