No. 221 Squadron IAF

No. 221 Squadron (Valiants) is an Indian Air Force fighter squadron and is equipped with Su-30MKI and based at Halwara Air Force Station.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

No. 221 Squadron
Active	14 February 1963 — February 1979 February 1982 — April 2009 24 April 2017 — Present
Country	Republic of India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Halwara AFS
Nickname(s)	"Valiants"
Decorations	President's Standard and Colour[1]
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-30 MKI

History

The squadron was established as an offensive fighter squadron on 14 February 1963 at Barrackpore. The first commanding officer was Squadron Leader N Chatrath. The squadron was subsequently equipped with Supermarine Spitfire, de Havilland Vampire and Su-7. The squadron has changed many based in the 54 years since its establishment. The Su-7 aircraft saw action in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 over Bangladesh. It also participated in the Kargil war with the Mig-23, which were retired in 2009. On 24 April 2017, Su30-MKI aircraft was inducted into the squadron with Wing Commander HS Luthra as the commanding officer. Numerous pilots from the squadron have been decorated with gallantry awards over many years of its operation.

Assignments

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
• Kargil War

Aircraft

Aircraft Types operated by 221 Squadron^[7][8][9]

Aircraft Type	From	To	Air Base
Supermarine Spitfire	May 1963	January 1968	AFS Barrackpore
de Havilland Vampire FB.52
Su-7	February 1968	February 1979
MiG-23 BN	February 1982	April 2009	AFS Halwara
Su-30 MKI	24 April 2017	Present

References

1. "2 IAF fighter squadrons, 2 static units get President's Standards & Colours". Indian Express. 8 March 2024.
2. "Press Information Bureau". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
3. "Indian Air Force boosts capabilities near Indo-Pakistani border with new fighter squadron | Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
4. "IAF inducts Su-30 MKI into frontline 221 Squadron". The Financial Express. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
5. "IAF enhances capabilities of Halwara base".
6. bureau, Odisha Diary (25 April 2017). "Induction Ceremony of SU 30 MKI to the Valiants – OdishaDiary". OdishaDiary. Retrieved 1 November 2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
7. "No.221 Squadron Valiants". Retrieved 2 January 2022.
8. "IAF inducts Su-30 MKI into frontline 221 Squadron". Business Standard. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
9. "English Releases".