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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = No. 18 Squadron
| unit_name = No. 18 Squadron
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| nickname = Flying Bullets
| nickname = Flying Bullets
| patron =
| patron =
| motto = ''Theevra aur Nirbhaya''<ref name=BRakshak>{{cite web|title=Squadrons 18-33|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Heraldry/Crests/345-Squadrons02.html|work=IAF Unit Crests|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=24 July 2022}}</ref><br>Fast and Fearless<ref name="BRakshak"/>
| motto = ''Theevra aur Nirbhaya''<ref name=BRakshak>{{cite web|title=Squadrons 18-33|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Heraldry/Crests/345-Squadrons02.html|work=IAF Unit Crests|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=24 July 2012}}</ref><br>Fast and Fearless<ref name="BRakshak"/>
| colors =
| colors =
| colors_label =
| colors_label =
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| website =
| website =
<!-- Commanders -->
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 =Group Captain Manish Tolani <ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/05/27/tejas-squadron-indian-air-force-sulur.html|title=Big day for IAF, HAL as new Tejas Squadron takes off today|publisher=OnManorama|author=Anantha Krishnan M|access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref>
| commander1 =Group Captain Manish Tolani <ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/05/27/tejas-squadron-indian-air-force-sulur.html|title=Big day for IAF, HAL as new Tejas Squadron takes off today|publisher=OnManorama|author=Anantha Krishnan M|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>
| commander1_label =
| commander1_label =
| commander2 =
| commander2 =
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| aircraft_fighter =[[HAL Tejas]]
| aircraft_fighter =[[HAL Tejas]]
}}
}}
'''No. 18 Squadron''' (''Flying Bullets''), is an air-defence unit of the [[Indian Air Force]], flying from [[Sulur Air Force Station]]. The squadron is equipped with indigenous [[HAL Tejas| HAL Tejas MK1]] in FOC configuration .<ref name=TOI>{{cite web|title=No. 18 Squadron numberplated|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/MiG-27-squadron-number-plated-at-Hasimara/articleshow/51846931.cms|publisher=Times Of India|access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref>
'''No. 18 Squadron''' (''Flying Bullets''), is an air-defence unit of the [[Indian Air Force]], flying from [[Sulur Air Force Station]]. The squadron is equipped with indigenous [[HAL Tejas| HAL Tejas MK1]] in FOC configuration .<ref name=TOI>{{cite web|title=No. 18 Squadron numberplated|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/MiG-27-squadron-number-plated-at-Hasimara/articleshow/51846931.cms|publisher=Times Of India|access-date=15 April 2016}}</ref>


The squadron was resurrected on 1 April 2020, at [[Sulur]], [[Tamil Nadu]]  following which on 27 May 2020, the FOC variant of [[HAL Tejas|Tejas]] Mk 1 has been inducted into the squadron.<ref name="18reborn">{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-set-to-raise-second-lca-squadron-in-sulur/story-JXmn3V2KhbqXm3fNDAYUnM.html|title=IAF set to raise second LCA squadron in Sulur|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2020/05/historic-iaf-squadron-revived-as-2nd-lca-tejas-unit.html|title=Historic IAF Squadron Revived As 2nd LCA Tejas Unit|date=25 May 2020|publisher=Livefist|access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref>
The squadron was resurrected on 1 April 2020, at [[Sulur]], [[Tamil Nadu]]  following which on 27 May 2020, the FOC variant of [[HAL Tejas|Tejas]] Mk 1 has been inducted into the squadron.<ref name="18reborn">{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-set-to-raise-second-lca-squadron-in-sulur/story-JXmn3V2KhbqXm3fNDAYUnM.html|title=IAF set to raise second LCA squadron in Sulur|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2020/05/historic-iaf-squadron-revived-as-2nd-lca-tejas-unit.html|title=Historic IAF Squadron Revived As 2nd LCA Tejas Unit|date=25 May 2020|publisher=Livefist|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The squadron was formed on 15 April 1965, with five [[Folland Gnat]]s and eleven pilots, it operated out of [[Srinagar Air Force Station|Srinagar AFS]].<ref name="18start">{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/squadron-of-iafs-sole-pvc-recipient-nirmaljit-sekhon-to-take-to-the-skies-again-89771|title=Squadron of IAF's sole PVC recipient Nirmaljit Sekhon to take to the skies again|work=The Tribune|access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> Although it existed during the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1965]], it did not officially participate in the conflict. A few pilots from this squadron flew operations with [[No. 9 Squadron IAF|9 Squadron]], and [[No. 2 Squadron IAF|2 Squadron]]. Squadron Leader K.L. Khanna, was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal during the war.<ref name=IAF.nic>{{cite web|title=No 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets)|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_unit.php?ch=15|work=Squadrons of the Indian air Force|publisher=Official Website of the Indian Air Force|access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>
The squadron was formed on 15 April 1965, with five [[Folland Gnat]]s and eleven pilots, it operated out of [[Srinagar Air Force Station|Srinagar AFS]].<ref name="18start">{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/squadron-of-iafs-sole-pvc-recipient-nirmaljit-sekhon-to-take-to-the-skies-again-89771|title=Squadron of IAF's sole PVC recipient Nirmaljit Sekhon to take to the skies again|work=The Tribune|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> Although it existed during the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1965]], it did not officially participate in the conflict. A few pilots from this squadron flew operations with [[No. 9 Squadron IAF|9 Squadron]], and [[No. 2 Squadron IAF|2 Squadron]]. Squadron Leader K.L. Khanna, was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal during the war.<ref name=IAF.nic>{{cite web|title=No 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets)|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_unit.php?ch=15|work=Squadrons of the Indian air Force|publisher=Official Website of the Indian Air Force|access-date=26 July 2012}}</ref>


The squadron first saw action during the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]], with the task of defending the Kashmir Valley. It operated out of AFS Srinagar, consisting of four aircraft, 17 officers and 72 men commanded by Wing Commander P Raina.  On 4 December, it scrambled to intercept an approaching raid. The raid was never carried out, but the squadron kept flying Combat Air Patrols all day.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>
The squadron first saw action during the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]], with the task of defending the Kashmir Valley. It operated out of AFS Srinagar, consisting of four aircraft, 17 officers and 72 men commanded by Wing Commander P Raina.  On 4 December, it scrambled to intercept an approaching raid. The raid was never carried out, but the squadron kept flying Combat Air Patrols all day.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>
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After the war, in February 1975, the Gnats were phased out, and replaced by [[HAL Ajeet]]s. In May 1989, when the squadron was at Hindon, they were replaced with [[MiG 27]]s. Its former role of Air Defence was changed to Ground-attack.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>
After the war, in February 1975, the Gnats were phased out, and replaced by [[HAL Ajeet]]s. In May 1989, when the squadron was at Hindon, they were replaced with [[MiG 27]]s. Its former role of Air Defence was changed to Ground-attack.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>


The squadron received the Presidential Standard Award in 2015.<ref name=pib>{{cite web|title=Squadron 18-22 honoured|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=131735|work= Citations for Presidential Honour to IAF Squadrons|publisher=Press Information Bureau|access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref> The squadron was re-formed with the indigenous [[HAL Tejas]] on 27 May 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/pvc-recipient-sekhon-s-squadron-to-fly-again/502125.html|title = PVC recipient Sekhon's squadron to fly again}}</ref><ref name="18reborn"/>
The squadron received the Presidential Standard Award in 2015.<ref name=pib>{{cite web|title=Squadron 18-22 honoured|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=131735|work= Citations for Presidential Honour to IAF Squadrons|publisher=Press Information Bureau|access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref> The squadron was re-formed with the indigenous [[HAL Tejas]] on 27 May 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/pvc-recipient-sekhon-s-squadron-to-fly-again/502125.html|title = PVC recipient Sekhon's squadron to fly again}}</ref><ref name="18reborn"/>


No. 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets), is the only unit in the [[Indian Air Force]] to have been awarded the esteemed [[Param Vir Chakra]], the highest gallantry medal awarded during times of war.
No. 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets), is the only unit in the [[Indian Air Force]] to have been awarded the esteemed [[Param Vir Chakra]], the highest gallantry medal awarded during times of war.
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