Sirsa Air Force Station: Difference between revisions

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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox airport
| name                      = Sirsa Air Force Station
| name                      = Sirsa Air Force Station
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| nativename-a              = {{lang|hi|सिरसा वायु सेना छावनी}}
| nativename-a              = {{lang|hi|सिरसा वायु सेना छावनी}}
| nativename-r              = <!--  Romanized native name, e.g. s Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīcháng -->
| nativename-r              = <!--  Romanized native name, e.g. s Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīcháng -->
| image                    =  
| image                    =  
| image-width              = <!-- if less than 200 -->
| image-width              = <!-- if less than 200 -->
| image_alt                =  
| image_alt                =  
| caption                  =
| caption                  =
| image2                    =  
| image2                    =  
| image2-width              = <!-- if less than 200 -->
| image2-width              = <!-- if less than 200 -->
| image2_alt                =  
| image2_alt                =  
| caption2                  =
| caption2                  =
| IATA                      =  
| IATA                      =  
| ICAO                      = VISX<ref name=cd1>[https://www.world-airport-codes.com/search/?s=visa World Airport Codes.]</ref>
| ICAO                      = VISX<ref name=cd1>[https://www.world-airport-codes.com/search/?s=visa World Airport Codes.]</ref>
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| GPS                      = VISX<ref name=cd1/>
| GPS                      = VISX<ref name=cd1/>
| WMO                      =
| WMO                      =
| type                      = Military
| type                      = Military
| owner-oper                = <!-- Use this if owner and operator are same -->
| owner-oper                = <!-- Use this if owner and operator are same -->
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| closed                    =  <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| closed                    =  <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| passenger_services_ceased =  <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| passenger_services_ceased =  <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| hub                      = <!-- If the airport serves as an hub, list the airlines here. This is not automatically linked, in order to allow multiple links if needed. Use {{plainlist}} if the list is long. Example:
| hub                      = <!-- If the airport serves as an hub, list the airlines here. This is not automatically linked, in order to allow multiple links if needed. Use {{plainlist}} if the list is long. Example:
{{plainlist|
{{plainlist|
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}}
}}
-->
-->
| focus_city                = <!-- A focus city is a destination from which an airline operates several point-to-point routes primarily catering to the local market rather than to connecting passengers.-->
| focus_city                = <!-- A focus city is a destination from which an airline operates several point-to-point routes primarily catering to the local market rather than to connecting passengers.-->
| built                    = <!-- military airports: number of years of built since when -->
| built                    = <!-- military airports: number of years of built since when -->
| used                      = <!-- military airports: number of years of used since when  -->
| used                      = <!-- military airports: number of years of used since when  -->
| commander                = <!-- military airports: Current commander -->
| commander                = <!-- military airports: Current commander -->
| occupants                = [[No. 21 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 15 Squadron IAF]]<br /> <!-- military airports -->
| occupants                = [[No. 21 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 15 Squadron IAF]]<br /> <!-- military airports -->
| timezone                  = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]  
| timezone                  = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]  
| utc                      = [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC+05:30]]
| utc                      = [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC+05:30]]
| elevation-f              = 650
| elevation-f              = 650
| elevation-m              = 198
| elevation-m              = 198
| metric-elev              = y <!-- set to 'y' if meter are to be displayed before ft, otherwise leave empty -->
| metric-elev              = y <!-- set to 'y' if meter are to be displayed before ft, otherwise leave empty -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|33|42|N|75|00|21|E}}
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|33|42|N|75|00|21|E}}
| image_map                =  
| image_map                =  
| image_mapsize            =  
| image_mapsize            =  
| image_map_alt            = <!-- Alternative text for the image map, defaults to same text as caption if left blank -->
| image_map_alt            = <!-- Alternative text for the image map, defaults to same text as caption if left blank -->
| image_map_caption        =
| image_map_caption        =
| pushpin_map              = India Haryana#India
| pushpin_map              = India Haryana#India
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_relief =  
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of airport in India
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the airport in Haryana
| pushpin_label            = VISX
| pushpin_label            = '''VISX'''
 
| r1-number                = 5/23        <!-- runway direction -->
| r1-number                = 5/23        <!-- runway direction -->
| r1-length-f              = 3500   <!-- runway length in feet -->
| r1-length-f              = 8956   <!-- runway length in feet -->
| r1-length-m              = 1066   <!-- runway length in meter -->
| r1-length-m              = 2730   <!-- runway length in meter -->
| r1-surface                = [[Concrete]] / [[Asphalt]]
| r1-surface                = [[Concrete]] / [[asphalt]]
 
| r2-number                =  
| r2-number                =  
| r2-length-f              =   
| r2-length-f              =   
| r2-length-m              =   
| r2-length-m              =   
| r2-surface                =
| r2-surface                =
| r3-number                =        <!-- up to r12, i.e. twelve runways -->
| r3-number                =        <!-- up to r12, i.e. twelve runways -->
| r3-length-f              =        <!-- up to r12, i.e. twelve runways -->
| r3-length-f              =        <!-- up to r12, i.e. twelve runways -->
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| r3-surface                =        <!-- up to r12, i.e. twelve runways -->
| r3-surface                =        <!-- up to r12, i.e. twelve runways -->
| metric-rwy                = y
| metric-rwy                = y
| h1-number                =    <!-- helipad direction -->
| h1-number                =    <!-- helipad direction -->
| h1-length-f              =    <!-- helipad length in feet -->
| h1-length-f              =    <!-- helipad length in feet -->
| h1-length-m              =    <!-- helipad length in meters -->
| h1-length-m              =    <!-- helipad length in meters -->
| h1-surface                =    <!-- up to h12, i.e. 12 helipads  -->
| h1-surface                =    <!-- up to h12, i.e. 12 helipads  -->
| h2-number                =    <!-- helipad direction -->
| h2-number                =    <!-- helipad direction -->
| h2-length-f              =    <!-- helipad length in feet -->
| h2-length-f              =    <!-- helipad length in feet -->
| h2-length-m              =    <!-- helipad length in meters -->
| h2-length-m              =    <!-- helipad length in meters -->
| h2-surface                =    <!-- up to h12, i.e. 12 helipads  -->
| h2-surface                =    <!-- up to h12, i.e. 12 helipads  -->
 
| stat1-header              =  
| stat1-header              = Hub for the number of airlines
| stat1-data                =  
| stat1-data                = 0
| stat2-header              =  
| stat2-header              = Number of scheduled airlines flying in
| stat2-data                =  
| stat2-data                = 0
| stat3-header              =  
| stat3-header              = Number of Airplanes
| stat3-data                =  
| stat3-data                =  
| stat4-header              = Number of scheduled weekly flights
| stat4-header              =  
| stat4-data                = 0
| stat4-data                =  
| stat5-header              = Number of scheduled flight passengers
| stat5-header              =  
| stat5-data                = 0
| stat5-data                =  
| stat6-header              =  
| stat6-header              =  
| stat6-data                =  
| stat6-data                =  
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| stat12-header            = <!-- A text heading of each statistic, e.g. Passengers or Aircraft operations -->
| stat12-header            = <!-- A text heading of each statistic, e.g. Passengers or Aircraft operations -->
| stat12-data              = <!-- up to stat8, data corresponding to the heading such as number of passenger -->
| stat12-data              = <!-- up to stat8, data corresponding to the heading such as number of passenger -->
| stat-year                = 2017 <!-- Use only one, the calendar year for the above statistics -->
| stat-year                = <!-- Use only one, the calendar year for the above statistics -->
 
| website                  = <!-- Please provide the reference-->
| website                  = <!-- {{URL|www.xyz.com}} -->
| footnotes                =
| footnotes                =<ref name=Sirsa>[https://www.world-airport-codes.com/search/?s=visa Information of Sirsa Air Force Base], airport-data.com. Retrieved 25 November 2014</ref><ref name="Wikimapia">[http://wikimapia.org/1821432 Sirsa Air Station], [[Wikimapia]]. Retrieved 25 November 2014</ref>
}}
}}


'''Sirsa Air Force Station''' or '''Sirsa AFS''' ([[ICAO airport code]] VISX) is a [[Western Air Command (India)#Air Bases|Forward Support Base Unit (FSBU)]] of [[Indian Air Force]]'s (IAF) [[Western Air Command]] (WAC), located at [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]] in the state of [[Haryana]], [[India]].<ref name="df">{{cite web|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=20966|title=Air Force Day Fly Past an Appeal|date=26 September 2006|publisher=PIB, Ministry of Defence}}</ref>
'''Sirsa Air Force Station''' or '''Sirsa AFS''' ([[ICAO]]: VISX) is an [[Indian Air Force]] base under  [[Western Air Command]], located at [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]] in the state of [[Haryana]], [[India]].<ref name="df">{{cite web|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=20966|title=Air Force Day Fly Past an Appeal|date=26 September 2006|publisher=PIB, Ministry of Defence}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{see also | List_of_airports_in_India#Haryana | label 1 =  Airports in Haryana | History_of_Haryana#Aviation | label 2 = Aviation history of Haryana | History of the Indian Air Force | label 3 = Indian Air Force history | Civil_aviation_in_India#History | label 4 = Civil Aviation History of India | Aviation_History | label 5 =  World Aviation History | Aviation_in_India | label 6 = Aviation in India | Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation }}
===1964 Inception===
In 1948, first airstrip was built in Haryana when [[Ambala Air Force Station]] was established. By 1964, the diversionary airforce airfields were ready at Sirsa as well as at [[Nal Airport|Nal]] in Bikaner.<ref name=pal1>PC Lal, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eBszCSguEscC&pg=PT158&dq=%22sirsa%22%2B+%22air+force%22+station&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja6ffbnqPfAhXEYo8KHZi5CZcQ6AEINjAD#v=onepage&q=%22sirsa%22%2B%20%22air%20force%22%20station&f=false My Years with the IAF].</ref>
===1971 Indo-Pak war===
===1971 Indo-Pak war===
In [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], [[Pakistan Air Force]] launched preemptive raid on 12 airforce stations,<ref name=jag1>Om Prakash Maurya, 2017, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_Ec1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT145&dq=%22sirsa%22%2B+%22air+force%22+station&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiaqqPfoKPfAhXPTn0KHUoMCOQ4ChDoAQgtMAE#v=onepage&q=%22sirsa%22%2B%20%22air%20force%22%20station&f=false Babu Jagjivan Ram].</ref> including Sirsa station, Faridkot Stations, [[Halwara Air Force Station]], few railway stations, Indian armour concentrations and other targets but failed to cause any significant damage except the pothole damage to the runway which was quickly repaired.<ref name=af1>A.S. Ahluwalia, 2012, [ Airborne to Chairborne: Memoirs of a War Veteran Aviator-Lawyer of the India Air Force].</ref> [[Dassault Mystère]] jets pounded the [[Pakistan Army]] pitched against the [[Indian Army]] in the [[Battle of Sabuna Drain]], Dassault Mystère also hit a train and destroyed 50 tanks on it between [[Okara, Pakistan|Okara]] and [[Sahiwal]]. On 5 December 1971, Dassault Mystère jets from the Sirsa station hit fuel dump at [[Changa Manga]]. On 7 Dec 1971, more trains carrying fuel and tanks were destroyed at [[Chishtian]].<ref name=airj1>Jasjit Singh, 2013, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Mku6DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT130&dq=sirsa+air+force+station+was+established+in&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXgsyWwaLfAhVLRY8KHQjzBDkQ6AEIODAD Defence from the Skies: 80 Years of the Indian Air Force: 80 Years].</ref> During the war the Dassault Mystère losses from Sirsa stations were - Sqn. Ldr. J.D. Kumar killed, Sqn. Ldr. Anukul ejected, Flt. Lt. Das ejected after his engine flammed out.<ref>PC Lal, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eBszCSguEscC&pg=PT302&dq=sirsa+air+force+station+was+established+in&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXgsyWwaLfAhVLRY8KHQjzBDkQ6AEIUTAI#v=onepage&q=sirsa%20air%20force%20station%20was%20established%20in&f=false My Years with the IAF]</ref> Airport authorities trained the volunteers from among the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] workers and deployed them for the airport security.<ref name=rss1>January 28, 1971, Organiser, Volume 25, Page 26.</ref>
In [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], [[Pakistan Air Force]] launched a pre-emptive raid on 12 airforce stations,<ref name=jag1>Om Prakash Maurya, 2017, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_Ec1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT145&dq=%22sirsa%22%2B+%22air+force%22+station&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiaqqPfoKPfAhXPTn0KHUoMCOQ4ChDoAQgtMAE#v=onepage&q=%22sirsa%22%2B%20%22air%20force%22%20station&f=false Babu Jagjivan Ram].</ref> including Sirsa station, Faridkot Stations, [[Halwara Air Force Station]], a few railway stations, Indian armour concentrations and other targets. However, this failed to cause any significant damage except pothole damage to the runway which was quickly repaired.<ref name=af1>A.S. Ahluwalia, 2012, [ Airborne to Chairborne: Memoirs of a War Veteran Aviator-Lawyer of the India Air Force].</ref> [[Dassault Mystère IV]] jets from Sirsa base pounded the [[Pakistan Army]] pitched against the [[Indian Army]] in the [[Battle of Sabuna Drain]]. Dassault Mystère also hit a train and destroyed 50 tanks on it between [[Okara, Pakistan|Okara]] and [[Sahiwal]].
 
==Runway==
There is one runway, aligned north-east to south-west (05-23).


==Units==
==Units==
It has [[No. 21 Squadron IAF]] of 45 [[Wing (military aviation unit)|Wing]]. Wing is an active air force combat formation. [[No. 15 Squadron IAF]] operating [[Su-30MKI]] is also based here.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-air-force-to-raise-four-more-squadrons-of-su-30-mki-fighter-501027|title=Indian Air Force to raise four more squadrons of Su-30 MKI fighter|date=5 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-iafs-top-guns-brave-extreme-alaska/20160511.htm|title=IAF's top guns brave extreme Alaska|date=11 May 2016}}</ref>
It has [[No. 21 Squadron IAF]] of 45 [[Wing (military aviation unit)|Wing]]. Wing is an active air force combat formation. [[No. 15 Squadron IAF]] operating [[Su-30MKI]] is also based here.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-air-force-to-raise-four-more-squadrons-of-su-30-mki-fighter-501027|title=Indian Air Force to raise four more squadrons of Su-30 MKI fighter|date=5 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-iafs-top-guns-brave-extreme-alaska/20160511.htm|title=IAF's top guns brave extreme Alaska|date=11 May 2022}}</ref>
 
Originally the base was home to a squadron each of [[MiG-23]]s and [[MiG-27]]s, both single-engine fighters, of ''No. 21 Squadron IAF''.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Sqn/003.html No. 3 Squadron, Indian Air Force] ''[[Bharat Rakshak]]''</ref>
 
Sirsa was amongst nine airfields in the Western Air Command (WAC) for the Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure programme (MAFI), started in 2009, and due its proximity to the Delhi, work at the station which included equipping it with sensitive radars was complete by 2011, when the first of six [[C-130J Hercules]] tactical transport aircraft bought from USA arrived, to be used exclusively by the Special Forces (SF) ([[Garud Commando Force]]). [[Hindon Air Force Station]] was designated to become home base for these aircraft, and for this purpose, the Hindon runway was extended and modern hangars, servicing and operations facilities suitable for the C-130J aircraft were added.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/may/220509-Hindon-Air-Force-station-airfield-transport-aircraft-Indian-Air-Force.htm|title=Hindon gets more airpower|date=2009-05-22|work=MiD DAY}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/iafs-first-c-130j-airlifter-to-arrive-this-week/articleshow/7297544.cms |title=IAF's first C-130J airlifter to arrive this week |date=16 January 2011 |work=The Economic Times|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015003445/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/iafs-first-c-130j-airlifter-to-arrive-this-week/articleshow/7297544.cms |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref>


It has a total of 40 aeroplanes, of which 20 are used for defence.
Originally the base was home to a squadron each of [[MiG-23]]s and [[MiG-27]]s, both single-engine fighters, of No. 21 Squadron IAF.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Sqn/003.html No. 3 Squadron, Indian Air Force] ''[[Bharat Rakshak]]''</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Aviation|India}}}}
{{stack|}}
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Airports Authority of India]]
* [[Airports Authority of India]]

Latest revision as of 22:13, 14 August 2023

Sirsa Air Force Station

Roundel of India.svg
Sirsa Vayu Sena Chhawni

सिरसा वायु सेना छावनी
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerIndian Air Force
OperatorWestern Air Command
LocationSirsa, Haryana
OccupantsNo. 21 Squadron IAF
No. 15 Squadron IAF
Time zoneIST (UTC+05:30)
Elevation AMSL198 m / 650 ft
Coordinates29°33′42″N 75°00′21″E / 29.56167°N 75.00583°E / 29.56167; 75.00583
Map
VISX is located in Haryana
VISX
VISX
Location of the airport in Haryana
VISX is located in India
VISX
VISX
VISX (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
5/23 2,730 8,956 Concrete / asphalt

Sirsa Air Force Station or Sirsa AFS (ICAO: VISX) is an Indian Air Force base under Western Air Command, located at Sirsa in the state of Haryana, India.[2]

History[edit]

1971 Indo-Pak war[edit]

In Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Pakistan Air Force launched a pre-emptive raid on 12 airforce stations,[3] including Sirsa station, Faridkot Stations, Halwara Air Force Station, a few railway stations, Indian armour concentrations and other targets. However, this failed to cause any significant damage except pothole damage to the runway which was quickly repaired.[4] Dassault Mystère IV jets from Sirsa base pounded the Pakistan Army pitched against the Indian Army in the Battle of Sabuna Drain. Dassault Mystère also hit a train and destroyed 50 tanks on it between Okara and Sahiwal.

Units[edit]

It has No. 21 Squadron IAF of 45 Wing. Wing is an active air force combat formation. No. 15 Squadron IAF operating Su-30MKI is also based here.[5][6]

Originally the base was home to a squadron each of MiG-23s and MiG-27s, both single-engine fighters, of No. 21 Squadron IAF.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Airport Codes.
  2. ↑ "Air Force Day Fly Past an Appeal". PIB, Ministry of Defence. 26 September 2006.
  3. ↑ Om Prakash Maurya, 2017, Babu Jagjivan Ram.
  4. ↑ A.S. Ahluwalia, 2012, [ Airborne to Chairborne: Memoirs of a War Veteran Aviator-Lawyer of the India Air Force].
  5. ↑ "Indian Air Force to raise four more squadrons of Su-30 MKI fighter". 5 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "IAF's top guns brave extreme Alaska". 11 May 2022.
  7. ↑ No. 3 Squadron, Indian Air Force Bharat Rakshak

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sirsa_Air_Force_Station&oldid=412202"