Ambala Air Force Station: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox military installation
| name                     = Ambala Air Force Station
| name = Ambala Air Force Station
| ensign                   = [[File:Roundel of India.svg|60px]]
| ensign = Air Force Ensign of India.svg
| ensign_size              =  
| ensign_size = 100px
| ensign_alt                =  
| native_name =
| nativename                = अंबाला वायु सेना छावनी
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
 
| location = [[Ambala]], [[Haryana]]
| image                    =  
| country = India
| image-width              = <!-- if less than 200 -->
| image = <!--[[File:|250px]]-->
| image_alt                =  
| caption =
| caption                  =
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
 
| alt2 =
| image2                    =  
| caption2 =
| image2-width              = <!-- if less than 200 -->
| type = [[Air base|Military airbase]]
| image2_alt                =  
| coordinates = {{Coord|30|22|15|N|76|49|04|E|display=inline,title}}
| caption2                  =
| gridref =
 
| pushpin_map = India Haryana#India
| IATA                     =  
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Haryana
| ICAO                     = VIAM<ref name=cd1>[http://www.world-airport-codes.com/india/hissar-2947.html World Airport Codes.]</ref>
| pushpin_label = Ambala AFS
| LID                       =  
| pushpin_label_position =
| GPS                       = VIAM<ref name=cd1/>
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]
| WMO                       =
| operator = [[Indian Air Force]]
 
| controlledby = [[Western Air Command]]
| type                      = Military
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| owner-oper                = <!-- Use this if owner and operator are same -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| owner                    = [[Indian Air Force]]
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities  radar types etc --> 
| operator                  = [[Western Air Command]]
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| city-served              = [[Ambala Cantonment]]
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| location                  = [[Ambala]], [[Haryana]]
| built = {{Start date|1919}}
| opened                    = <!-- text or {{start date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| used = 1919 - present
| closed                    = <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| builder = [[British Raj]]
| passenger_services_ceased = <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| fate =
 
| condition =  
| 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:
| battles =
{{plainlist|
| events =
* [[British Airways]]
| current_commander =  
* [[Virgin Atlantic Airways|Virgin Air]]
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = 7 Wing
| occupants = [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 17 Squadron IAF]]
| designations =  
| website =
| footnotes =
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = AMI
| ICAO = VIAM<ref name=cd1>[http://www.world-airport-codes.com/india/hissar-2947.html World Airport Codes.]</ref>
| LID =  
| GPS =  
| WMO =  
| elevation = {{Convert|275.2|m|0}}
| r1-number = 12/30
| r1-length = {{Convert|2811|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]] /  [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number =  
| r2-length = {{Convert|1770|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Concrete / Asphalt
| r3-number =
| r3-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r3-surface =
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information  -->
}}
}}
-->
[[File:1925 Air Routes of British India.jpg|thumb|347x347px|Air routes of British India in 1925, with single fight between Ambala and [[Risalpur]] (now in [[Nowshera District]] of [[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]]) on 14 January 2025.]]


| 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.-->
The '''Ambala Air Force Station''' {{airport codes|AMI|VIAM}} is an Indian Air Force base situated north of the urban [[Ambala Cantt]] area in [[Haryana]], [[India]]. The Ambala Air Force Station is the home to the first batch of advance multirole fighter jet [[Dassault Rafale]]s that have been inducted to [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Five Rafale jets leave for India: What happens next | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/five-rafale-jets-leave-for-india-what-happens-next-6525806/lite/#aoh=15958763840894&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s}}</ref>


| built                    = <!-- military airports: number of years of built since when -->
==History==
| used                      = <!-- military airports: number of years of used since when -->
{{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 }}
| commander                = <!-- military airports: Current commander -->
| occupants                = [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 17 Squadron IAF]]
<!-- military airports -->


| timezone                  = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]  
In 1919 immediately after the [[First World War]] (1914-18), first airstrip was built in Haryana when RAF Ambala was created and a [[Flying Instructors School (India)|Flying Instruction School]] (FIS) was formed here.
| utc                      = [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC+05:30]]


| elevation-f              = 900
On 1 April 1920, [[No. 28 Squadron RAF]] which was earlier disbanded in Britain in January 1920,{{sfn|Halley|1988|p=72}}{{sfn|Rawlings|1969|pp=77, 79}} was reformed at [[Ambala Air Force Station|RAF Ambala]] by renumbering [[No. 114 Squadron RAF|114 Squadron]], an army cooperation squadron equipped with the [[Bristol F2b Fighter]].{{sfn|Rawlings|1982|p=45}}{{sfn|Halley|1988|pp=72–73, 190–191}} It may have also retained some [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2]]s, although if operated, they were soon phased out.{{sfn|Rawlings|1982|p=45}} The squadron operated over the [[North-West Frontier Province|North-West Frontier]], moving to [[PAF Base Kohat|Kohat]] in December 1921.{{sfn|Rawlings|1982|pp=45–46}}  
| elevation-m              = 275.2
| metric-elev              = y <!-- set to 'y' if meter are to be displayed before ft, otherwise leave empty -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|22|15|N|76|49|04|E}}


| image_map                =  
On 1st April 1938 just before the [[Second World War]] (1939-45), Ambala was approved as the permanent Station Headquarters when some staff from the [[PAF Base Faisal|Drigh Road Karachi Airfield]] was moved to Ambala, including the [[Pilot Officer]]s Goyal, Arjan Singh and Prithipal Singh, and in June 1938 two squadrons were moved here,  [[No. 1 Squadron IAF]] (The Tigers) - the oldest squadron of the Indian Air Force and [[No. 28 Squadron RAF]].<ref name=indiaf1>[https://iafhistory.in/2022/02/03/ambala-independent-indias-first-iaf-station-hq/ Ambala-Independent India's first IAF station], iafhistory.in, accessed 3 Jul 2025.</ref> Royal Air Force units based at Ambala during [[British India]] era included:
| image_mapsize            =  
* [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]] between 1 April and 30 September 1921 without any aircraft{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=27}}
| image_map_alt            = <!-- Alternative text for the image map, defaults to same text as caption if left blank -->
* [[No. 5 Squadron RAF]] between 26 October 1922 and 10 March 1924 with the [[Bristol F.2 Fighter|Bristol F.2B Fighter]]{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=28}}
| image_map_caption        =
* [[No. 20 Squadron RAF]] between 17 October 1921 and 24 October 1922 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=34}}
* [[No. 28 Squadron RAF]] between 1 April 1920 and 15 October 1921 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=37}}
* [[No. 31 Squadron RAF]] between 13 March 1924 and 15 December 1926 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=}}
* [[No. 60 Squadron RAF]] between 3 March 1939 and 19 September 1940 with the [[Bristol Blenheim]] I{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=47}}
* [[No. 99 Squadron RAF]] between 15 June and 26 September 1919 with the [[Airco DH.9]]A{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=56}}
* [[No. 114 Squadron RAF]] between 2 October 1919 and 1 April 1920 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=59}}
* [[No. 1 (Indian) Service Flying Training School RAF]], disbanded 1 April 1946 here.
* [[No. 659 Squadron AAC|No. 659 Squadron RAF]] between January 1946 and May 1947 with the [[Taylorcraft Auster]] V.{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=104}}


| pushpin_map              = India Haryana#India
On 1 April 1946 1 SFTS, 151 OTU and 1 (Advanced) Flying Unit merged to become the Advanced Flying School (India) at Ambala.
| pushpin_relief            =
| pushpin_mapsize          =
| pushpin_map_alt          =  <!-- Alternative text for the image map, defaults to same text as caption if left blank -->
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of airport in India
| pushpin_image            =
| pushpin_label            = '''VIAM'''


| r1-number                = 12/30  <!-- runway direction -->
After [[Independence Day (India)|India's independence in August 1947]], Ambala became independent India's first IAF station.<ref name=indiaf1/> In 1947, FIS Ambala was moved to [[Tambaram]] near [[Chennai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], at [[Tambaram Air Force Station]].
| r1-length-f              =  9,224 <!-- runway length in feet --> 
| r1-length-m              =  2,811 <!-- runway length in meter -->
| r1-surface                = [[Concrete]] / [[asphalt]]


| r2-number                = N/A
In both the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971]] wars, Ambala Air Force Base was attacked by the Pakistani Air Force. In 1965, the Pakistanis struck Ambala and reportedly destroyed some 25 Indian planes just after they had returned from missions (the PAF did not initially claim any IAF aircraft during the attack on Ambala due to non-availability of damage in night bombing).<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambala Airbase|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ambala.htm|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>
| r2-length-f              = 5,808 <!-- runway length in feet --> 
Indian Air Force rejected the Pakistani claim and stated that no aircraft were lost in Ambala during the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Accidents/listing.php?qyear=1965&qacid=&qt=YR |title=Indian Air Force Accidents and Incidents |publisher=Bharat-rakshak.com |date= |access-date=2022-03-19}}</ref>
| r2-length-m              = 1,770 <!-- runway length in meter -->
| r2-surface                = Concrete / asphalt
}}
The '''Ambala Air Force Station''' is an Air Force base situated north of the urban [[Ambala Cantt]] area in [[Haryana]], [[India]]. The Ambala Air Force Station is the home to the first batch of advance multirole fighter jet [[Dassault Rafale]]s that have been inducted to [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Five Rafale jets leave for India: What happens next | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/five-rafale-jets-leave-for-india-what-happens-next-6525806/lite/#aoh=15958763840894&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s}}</ref>


==Location==
On February 26, 2019, for India's [[2019 Balakot airstrike]] in Pakistan, Mirage fighters took off from the Ambala air base, and the whole operation took 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/indian-air-force-loc-kashmir-live-updates|title='Wait For Our Response,' Says Pak Army After India's Air Strikes|website=The Quint|date=26 February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>


Ambala Air Force Station is considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF. The Indo-Pak border is around 220&nbsp;km from there.{{cn|date=September 2021}}
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]] in 2020-21, the Russian [[Ministry of Emergency Situations (Russia)|Ministry of Emergency Situations]] flew relief supplies from Russia to Ambala.{{cn|date=August 2025}}


==History==
==Assets==
{{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 }}
[[File:IAF Rafale aircraft touching down at Air Force Station Ambala on its arrival on 29 July 2020 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Dassault Rafale landing at the Ambala Air Force Station on 29 July 2020.]]
 
In 1919, first airstrip was built in Haryana when Ambala Air Force Station was established following the independence of India. It is also the home to the [[SEPECAT Jaguar]] of [[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] and [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]], and aging [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21bis]] of ''No. 21 Squadron IAF''.
 
In 1919, a [[Flying Instructors School (India)|Flying Instruction School]] (FIS) was formed here.  
 
In 1947, FIS Ambala was moved to [[Tambaram]] near [[Chennai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], at [[Tambaram Air Force Station]].


In both the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971]] wars, Ambala Air Force Base was attacked by the Pakistani Air Force. In 1965, the Pakistanis struck Ambala and reportedly destroyed some 25 Indian planes just after they had returned from missions (the PAF did not initially claimed any IAF aircraft during the attack on Ambala due to non-availability of damage in night bombing).<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambala Airbase|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ambala.htm|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>
In 2018–19, Ambala Airforce station housed a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] of [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]  of [[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] and [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]], and aging [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21bis]] of [[No. 21 Squadron IAF]] (Ankush). In May 2020, the base became the house of the [[No. 17 Squadron IAF|first squadron]] of [[Dassault Rafale]] fighter jets. The [[No. 101 Squadron IAF|second squadron]] is based at [[Hasimara Air Force Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/surgical-strike-2-0-all-we-know-so-far-about-indias-air-strike-on-pakistan-2048905.html|title=News18 Newsletter {{!}} All We Know So Far About India's Surgical Strike 2.0 on Pakistan|website=News18|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>
Indian Air Force rejected the Pakistani claim and stated that no aircraft were lost in Ambala during the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Accidents/listing.php?qyear=1965&qacid=&qt=YR |title=Indian Air Force Accidents and Incidents |publisher=Bharat-rakshak.com |date= |access-date=2022-03-19}}</ref>


In January 2019, it was announced to set up a civil enclave and extend runway of all five existing government airports in Haryana to at least 5,000 feet for [[Aircraft#Sizes|midsize aircraft]] and [[business jet]]s, and night landing and parking hangars will be constructed as airlines have approached the Haryana government to park their spillover "Non-scheduled Air Operations" (NSOP) aircraft from the congested IGI airport at Delhi to Bhiwani and Narnaul airport. Some of this development work at Hisar, Bhiwani and Narnaul airports is already underway.<ref>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/all-five-airports-in-state-to-be-developed-expanded/710300.html All five airports in state to be developed expanded], The Tribune 8 January 2019.</ref> Hisar will be extended to 10,000 ft by March 2022 for large air crafts.
A dedicated flight training facility and an [[Aircraft maintenance|MRO facility]] for the Rafale fleet operates out of the airbase.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-16 |title=Indian weapons must on all 114 Rafale jets, govt tells Dassault |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/top-headlines/indian-weapons-must-on-all-114-rafale-jets-govt-tells-dassault/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>


On Feb 26, 2019, for India's [[2019 Balakot airstrike]] in Pakistan, ''Mirage fighters'' took off from the Ambala air base, and the whole operation took 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/indian-air-force-loc-kashmir-live-updates|title='Wait For Our Response,' Says Pak Army After India's Air Strikes|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>
==Ambala Domestic Airport==
{{anchor | Civil | Enclave | Civil Enclave | Civil enclave | Domestic }}
The foundation stone for the [[civil enclave]] at Ambala was laid in October 2023, on a 20-acre site next to the airforce base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/airport-ambala-here-you-need-know-8984875/|title=Now an airport in Ambala: Here's what you need to know|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en| date=16 October 2023 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> Land for the civil enclave had been acquired from the ministry of defense for Rupees 133 crores, and another Rupees 40 crores were allocated for infrastructure, while Rupees 16 crore was set aside for construction of the terminal building. Security for the airport will be provided by the Haryana Police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/haryana-police-to-be-deployed-at-ambala-airport-operational-by-february-vij-101736614026077.html|title=Haryana Police to be deployed at Ambala airport, operational by February: Vij|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en| date=11 January 2025 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/new-ambala-airport-to-be-operational-by-feb-says-vij/articleshow/117156910.cms|title=New Ambala airport to be operational by Feb, says Vij |website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en| date=11 January 2025 | access-date=14 January 2025}}</ref> The project was initially approved in December 2018 under the Central Government's [[UDAN]] 3.0 scheme but faced delays due to land acquisition issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/equipment-delays-push-back-ambala-civil-enclave-operations/|title=Equipment delays push back Ambala Civil Enclave operations|website=[[The Tribune (India)]]|language=en| date=12 January 2025 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref>


During [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|2020-21 covid pandemic]], [[MChS Rossii]] flew to Ambala with relief supplies from Russia.
Inauguration of the civil enclave is expected to be around 15th August 2025, in the presence of Union Defence Minister [[Rajnath Singh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/rajnath-okays-opening-of-ambala-cantt-airport/|title=Rajnath 'okays' opening of Ambala Cantt Airport|website=[[The Tribune (India)]]|language=en| date=2 August 2025 | accessdate=2 August 2025}}</ref> Initial flights are expected to be operated to cities like [[Jammu]], [[Srinagar]], [[Lucknow]], and [[Ayodhya]].<ref name=planamb11>[https://en.theharyanastory.com/article/1765/good-news-for-haryana-flights-to-four-cities-from-ambala-airport-coming-soon Good News for Haryana: Flights to Four Cities from Ambala Airport Coming Soon], theharyanastory.com, 24 Mar 2025.</ref>


==Assets==
The IATA code AMI has now been officially assigned to Ambala Airport, formally placing Ambala on the global aviation map.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airline and Airport Code Search |url=https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=www.iata.org |language=en}}</ref>
In 2018–19, Ambala Airforce station housed a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] of [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]. on May 2020, the IAF became the house of the first batch of 36 latest [[Dassault Rafale]] fighter jets at Ambala Air Force Station and [[Hasimara Air Force Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/surgical-strike-2-0-all-we-know-so-far-about-indias-air-strike-on-pakistan-2048905.html|title=News18 Newsletter {{!}} All We Know So Far About India's Surgical Strike 2.0 on Pakistan|website=News18|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
 
{{Portal|Aviation|India}}
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}


* [[List of airports in India#Haryana|List of airports in India by state]]
* [[List of airports in India#Haryana|List of airports in India by state]]
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** [[List of busiest airports in India]]
** [[List of busiest airports in India]]
** [[List of Indian Air Force bases]]
** [[List of Indian Air Force bases]]
* Military
* Military
** [[Sirsa Air Force Station]]
** [[Sirsa Air Force Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[Gurugram Air Force Station]]
** [[Gurugram Air Force Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[Raja Nahar Singh Faridabad Air Force Logistics Station]]
** [[Raja Nahar Singh Faridabad Air Force Logistics Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[Hisar Military Station]]
** [[Hisar Military Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[List of Indian Air Force bases]]
** [[List of Indian Air Force stations]]
** [[List of Armed Forces Hospitals In India]]
** [[List of Armed Forces Hospitals In India]]
* Other
** [[Administrative divisions of Haryana|Divisions of Haryana]]
** [[List of highways in Haryana]]
** [[Railway in Haryana]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


==References==
== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1=C.&nbsp;G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |publisher= Airlife Publishing |location= [[Shrewsbury]], UK |isbn= 1-84037-141-2 }}
* {{cite book |last=Halley |first=James J. |title=The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988 |year=1988 |location =Tonbridge, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. |isbn=0-85130-164-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first=J. D. R. |title=Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. and their Aircraft |year=1969 |location=London |publisher=Macdonald & Co., (Publishers) Ltd. }}
* {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first=John D. R. |title=Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft |year=1982 |location=London |publisher=Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. |isbn=0-7106-0187-5}}


{{stack|}}
{{stack|}}


{{Airports in India}}
{{Airports in India}}
 
{{Indian Air Force}}
{{coord|30.370833|76.817778|type:airport_region:|display=title}}


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}
{{Indian Air Force}}


[[Category:Ambala]]
[[Category:Ambala]]
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[[Category:Airports in Haryana]]
[[Category:Airports in Haryana]]
[[Category:World War II sites in India]]
[[Category:World War II sites in India]]
[[Category:1940s establishments in India]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1919]]
[[Category:Airports established in the 1940s]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
 
[[Category:Airports Authority of India]]
 
{{India-airport-stub}}

Latest revision as of 14:17, 7 February 2026


Ambala Air Force Station
Ambala, Haryana in India
Ambala AFS is located in Haryana
Ambala AFS
Ambala AFS
Shown within Haryana
Ambala AFS is located in India
Ambala AFS
Ambala AFS
Ambala AFS (India)
Coordinates30°22′15″N 76°49′04″E / 30.37083°N 76.81778°E / 30.37083; 76.81778
TypeMilitary airbase
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorIndian Air Force
Controlled byWestern Air Command
Site history
Built1919 (1919)
Built byBritish Raj
In use1919 - present
Garrison information
Garrison7 Wing
OccupantsNo. 14 Squadron IAF
No. 5 Squadron IAF
No. 17 Squadron IAF
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: AMI, ICAO: VIAM[1]
Elevation275.2 metres (903 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
12/30 2,811 metres (9,222 ft) Concrete / Asphalt
1,770 metres (5,807 ft) Concrete / Asphalt
Air routes of British India in 1925, with single fight between Ambala and Risalpur (now in Nowshera District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) on 14 January 2025.

The Ambala Air Force Station (IATA: AMI, ICAO: VIAM) is an Indian Air Force base situated north of the urban Ambala Cantt area in Haryana, India. The Ambala Air Force Station is the home to the first batch of advance multirole fighter jet Dassault Rafales that have been inducted to Indian Air Force.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

See also: Airports in Haryana, Aviation history of Haryana, Indian Air Force history, Civil Aviation History of India, World Aviation History, Aviation in India, and Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation

In 1919 immediately after the First World War (1914-18), first airstrip was built in Haryana when RAF Ambala was created and a Flying Instruction School (FIS) was formed here.

On 1 April 1920, No. 28 Squadron RAF which was earlier disbanded in Britain in January 1920,[3][4] was reformed at RAF Ambala by renumbering 114 Squadron, an army cooperation squadron equipped with the Bristol F2b Fighter.[5][6] It may have also retained some Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s, although if operated, they were soon phased out.[5] The squadron operated over the North-West Frontier, moving to Kohat in December 1921.[7]

On 1st April 1938 just before the Second World War (1939-45), Ambala was approved as the permanent Station Headquarters when some staff from the Drigh Road Karachi Airfield was moved to Ambala, including the Pilot Officers Goyal, Arjan Singh and Prithipal Singh, and in June 1938 two squadrons were moved here, No. 1 Squadron IAF (The Tigers) - the oldest squadron of the Indian Air Force and No. 28 Squadron RAF.[8] Royal Air Force units based at Ambala during British India era included:

On 1 April 1946 1 SFTS, 151 OTU and 1 (Advanced) Flying Unit merged to become the Advanced Flying School (India) at Ambala.

After India's independence in August 1947, Ambala became independent India's first IAF station.[8] In 1947, FIS Ambala was moved to Tambaram near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, at Tambaram Air Force Station.

In both the 1965 and 1971 wars, Ambala Air Force Base was attacked by the Pakistani Air Force. In 1965, the Pakistanis struck Ambala and reportedly destroyed some 25 Indian planes just after they had returned from missions (the PAF did not initially claim any IAF aircraft during the attack on Ambala due to non-availability of damage in night bombing).[18] Indian Air Force rejected the Pakistani claim and stated that no aircraft were lost in Ambala during the war.[19]

On February 26, 2019, for India's 2019 Balakot airstrike in Pakistan, Mirage fighters took off from the Ambala air base, and the whole operation took 30 minutes.[20]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in India in 2020-21, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations flew relief supplies from Russia to Ambala.[citation needed]

Assets[edit | edit source]

Dassault Rafale landing at the Ambala Air Force Station on 29 July 2020.

In 2018–19, Ambala Airforce station housed a squadron of SEPECAT Jaguar of No. 5 Squadron IAF and No. 14 Squadron IAF, and aging MiG-21bis of No. 21 Squadron IAF (Ankush). In May 2020, the base became the house of the first squadron of Dassault Rafale fighter jets. The second squadron is based at Hasimara Air Force Station.[21]

A dedicated flight training facility and an MRO facility for the Rafale fleet operates out of the airbase.[22]

Ambala Domestic Airport[edit | edit source]

The foundation stone for the civil enclave at Ambala was laid in October 2023, on a 20-acre site next to the airforce base.[23] Land for the civil enclave had been acquired from the ministry of defense for Rupees 133 crores, and another Rupees 40 crores were allocated for infrastructure, while Rupees 16 crore was set aside for construction of the terminal building. Security for the airport will be provided by the Haryana Police.[24][25] The project was initially approved in December 2018 under the Central Government's UDAN 3.0 scheme but faced delays due to land acquisition issues.[26]

Inauguration of the civil enclave is expected to be around 15th August 2025, in the presence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.[27] Initial flights are expected to be operated to cities like Jammu, Srinagar, Lucknow, and Ayodhya.[28]

The IATA code AMI has now been officially assigned to Ambala Airport, formally placing Ambala on the global aviation map.[29]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ World Airport Codes.
  2. ↑ "Five Rafale jets leave for India: What happens next".
  3. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 72.
  4. ↑ Rawlings 1969, pp. 77, 79.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rawlings 1982, p. 45.
  6. ↑ Halley 1988, pp. 72–73, 190–191.
  7. ↑ Rawlings 1982, pp. 45–46.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ambala-Independent India's first IAF station, iafhistory.in, accessed 3 Jul 2025.
  9. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 27.
  10. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 28.
  11. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 34.
  12. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 37.
  13. ↑ Jefford 2001.
  14. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 47.
  15. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 56.
  16. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 59.
  17. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 104.
  18. ↑ "Ambala Airbase". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Indian Air Force Accidents and Incidents". Bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  20. ↑ "'Wait For Our Response,' Says Pak Army After India's Air Strikes". The Quint. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  21. ↑ "News18 Newsletter | All We Know So Far About India's Surgical Strike 2.0 on Pakistan". News18. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  22. ↑ "Indian weapons must on all 114 Rafale jets, govt tells Dassault". The Tribune. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "Now an airport in Ambala: Here's what you need to know". The Indian Express. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  24. ↑ "Haryana Police to be deployed at Ambala airport, operational by February: Vij". Hindustan Times. 11 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  25. ↑ "New Ambala airport to be operational by Feb, says Vij". The Times of India. 11 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "Equipment delays push back Ambala Civil Enclave operations". The Tribune (India). 12 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  27. ↑ "Rajnath 'okays' opening of Ambala Cantt Airport". The Tribune (India). 2 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  28. ↑ Good News for Haryana: Flights to Four Cities from Ambala Airport Coming Soon, theharyanastory.com, 24 Mar 2025.
  29. ↑ "Airline and Airport Code Search". www.iata.org. Retrieved 7 February 2026.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Rawlings, J. D. R. (1969). Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Co., (Publishers) Ltd.
  • Rawlings, John D. R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
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