The Indian Air Force (IAF) will Operationalise its No.18 Squadron at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on May 27, equipping it with the fourth generation LCA Tejas aircraft. A PIB (Defence Wing) release here said IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalise the squadron “Flying Bullets” at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore on Wednesday.

“The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC (final operation clearance) aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas,” after the 45 Squadron based at Coimbatore, it said.

The No.18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto “Teevra aur Nirbhaya” meaning “Swift and Fearless,” was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft.

The Squadron “actively participated” in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously.

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