Sulur Air Force Station: Difference between revisions

| owner        = [[Indian Air Force]]

| operator    = [[Southern Air Command (India)]]

'''Sulur Air Force Station''' is an [[Military airbase|air base]] of the [[Indian Air Force]] located  at [[Sulur]] near [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and is India's second largest air base after [[Hindon Air Force Station|Hindon AFS]]. It is the base which is responsible for protection of India's sea area. It is the only base in India which handles both fighter and transport flights at one location; no other base in India is equipped to do so. It is also the  only IAF base in India to have all Departments at one location: fighters, carrier planes, carrier helicopters, attack helicopters, a repair and overhauling depot, TETTRA school, Garud Force, Air Force Hospital, Southern Command Sub Headquarters, & ECHS.<ref name="tejas-op">{{cite news |title=Tejas Commences Operations From Kerala's Sulur Air Force Station |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-made-tejas-fighter-aircraft-takes-first-flight-from-air-force-station-in-sulur-kerala-1876739 |work=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |date=2 July 2018}}</ref> It is a former [[Royal Navy]] and [[Indian Navy]] base.

The base is home for 5 Base Repair Depot and 43 Wing of the Indian Air Force.<ref>{{cite news |title=AF Sulur to get Light Combat Aircraft in 2010: Air Chief |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/AF-Sulur-to-get-Light-Combat-Aircraft-in-2010-Air-Chief/article15205140.ece |work=The Hindu |date=17 April 2008 |language=en-IN}}</ref> The [[No. 33 Squadron IAF|33 squadron]] "Himalayan Geese" which operated [[Antonov An-32]] medium transport aircraft is based at Sulur.<ref>{{cite news |title=33 Squadron celebrates anniversary |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/33-Squadron-celebrates-anniversary/article16363862.ece |work=The Hindu |date=4 April 2010 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Selfless service earns two IAF squadrons President's Standard |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/selfless-service-earns-two-iaf-squadrons-presidents-standard/article4190344.ece |work=The Hindu |date=12 December 2012 |language=en-IN}}</ref> The base also accommodates [[No. 109 Helicopter Unit, IAF|109 helicopter unit]] "Knights" operating [[Mil Mi-17|Mi-17 V5]] transport helicopters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Wilson |title=How air warriors fromSulur flew to help Kerala |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/how-air-warriors-fromsulur-flew-to-help-kerala/article24795453.ece |work=The Hindu |date=28 August 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref> The [[Sarang display team|Sarang]] helicopter display team belonging to [[No. 151 Helicopter Unit, IAF|151 Squadron]] of the Indian Air Force has its primary garrison at Sulur and operates modified [[HAL Dhruv]] helicopters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarang – from display to rescue |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/sarang-from-display-to-rescue/article4910908.ece |work=The Hindu |date=13 July 2013 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Starting from July 2018, the air force station is also home of the [[No. 45 Squadron IAF|45 Squadron]] "Flying Daggers", which operates [[HAL Tejas]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Siddiqui |first=Huma |date=November 13, 2019  |title=More firepower to Indian Air Force! IAF to receive around 200 fighter aircrafts &#91;sic&#93; |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/more-firepower-to-indian-air-force-iaf-to-receive-around-200-fighter-aircrafts/1763782/ |access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> On May 27, 2020, [[No. 18 Squadron IAF|18 Squadron]] "Flying Bullets" was operationalised from this air base.<ref>{{Cite news |title=LCA Tejas to join IAF 18 Squadron today at Tamil Nadu's Sulur airbase |work=Zee News |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/lca-tejas-to-join-iaf-18-squadron-today-at-tamil-nadus-sulur-airbase-2286345.html |access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> 610 Garud Flight was formed at 43 Wing Sulur on 22 Nov 2010. The flight specialises in counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations