The Indian Air Force (IAF) is commemorating 25 years of the Kargil victory with a celebration at Air Force Station Sarsawa from July 12 to 26, 2024. The event, ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas Rajat Jayanti’, honors the brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
The IAF played a crucial role in the Kargil War (Op Safed Sagar), overcoming challenges posed by the high altitude and steep gradient of the battlefield. The IAF flew over 5,000 strike missions, 350 reconnaissance/ELINT missions, and 800 escort flights, as well as 2,000 helicopter sorties for casualty evacuations and air transport operations.
The 152 Helicopter Unit, also known as “The Mighty Armour,” played a significant role in Operation Safed Sagar at Air Force Station Sarsawa. On May 28, 1999, Squadron Leader R Pundir, Flight Lieutenant S Muhilan, Sergeant PVNR Prasad, and Sergeant RK Sahu were part of the “Nubra” formation, tasked with conducting a live strike against enemy positions at Tololing. Although they successfully completed the attack, their helicopter was struck by an enemy Stinger Missile during the withdrawal, resulting in the tragic loss of four lives.
On July 13, 2024, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari laid a wreath at the Station War Memorial, paying tribute to the air warriors who laid down their lives in service of the nation. The event included an air show with displays by the Akash Ganga Team, Jaguar, Su-30 Mkl, and Rafale fighter aircraft, as well as a “Missing Man formation” flown by Mi-17 V5 in memory of the fallen heroes.
The celebration also featured a static display of IAF helicopters, performances by the Air Warrior Drill Team and the Air Force Band, and was attended by over 5,000 spectators, including school children, local residents, veterans, and personnel from Defence Forces establishments.