IAF | DD News

September 30, 2025 3:18 PM

Rajnath Singh calls for deeper jointness among Armed Forces to meet evolving security challenges

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday underscored the need for greater jointness and integration among India’s Armed Forces to meet the demands of modern warfare, stressing that collaborative strength across services is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity for national security. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Indian Air Force at Subroto Park, New Delhi, on the theme “Fostering Greater Jointness — Synergy through Shared Learning in the domain of Inspection and Audits, A...

September 25, 2025 3:09 PM

Defence ministry signs ₹62,370 crore deal with HAL for fighter aircraft

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a contract worth over ₹62,370 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The order includes 68 fighter jets and 29 twin-seater aircraft, along with associated equipment. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027–28 and will be completed over a period of six years. According to the ministry, the aircraft will have an indigenous content of more than ...

September 6, 2025 1:23 PM

IAF conducts airdrop mission in J&K’s Udhampur; rescues 540 people in Himachal

Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a major humanitarian operation in landslide-affected regions of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Himachal Pradesh, providing life-saving aid and rescuing hundreds stranded by relentless rains and floods. “In landslide-affected region of Udhampur, @IAF_MCC carried out a daring mission airdropping 5.9 tonnes of life-saving food supplies. Hundreds of families trapped by relentless landslides found hope from above,” Western Air Co...

September 5, 2025 11:06 AM

IAF Chinooks airlift 135 Manimahesh pilgrims to safety in Himachal

The Indian Air Force on Friday airlifted 135 stranded devotees from Bharmour to Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, using three sorties of its Chinook helicopters, as part of the ongoing rescue operations during the Manimahesh Yatra. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has been supervising the evacuation on the ground. The annual pilgrimage to the glacier-fed Manimahesh Lake, situated at 13,500 feet in the Pir-Panjal range, coincides with Janmashtami and draws devotees from across northern India. The Ch...

June 26, 2025 11:36 AM

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla orbiting Earth, to dock today at space station

IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on his way to create history by becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, along with three others from the US, Poland, and Hungary, is expected to dock at the orbiting laboratory at 7 a.m.EDT (4.30 p.m. IST). Lucknow-born Shukla launched to the ISS at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12 noon IST), from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on the company’s Falcon 9 rock...

June 25, 2025 4:41 PM

Operation Sindhu: IAF brings 224 Indian nationals back from Israel

The Indian Air Force on Wednesday successfully evacuated 224 more Indian nationals from Israel, taking the total number of citizens brought back safely to 818, under Operation Sindhu. Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje greeted the Indian nationals upon their arrival in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on X, "Operation Sindhu update, MoS Ms. Shobha Karandlaje received 224 Indian nationals who returned to India from Israel on an IAF aircraft at 10:30 Hrs on 25th June. Th...

June 24, 2025 3:42 PM

Operation Sindhu: IAF brings back 268 Indian nationals from Israel

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday repatriated 286 Indian nationals from Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, who had been residing in Israel. With this, the total number of Indian citizens brought back from Israel has risen to 594. Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan welcomed the Indian nationals upon their arrival in New Delhi. This is the second IAF flight bringing back the Indians from Israel. Earlier in the day, an IAF flight carrying 165 Indians had arrived in the national...

May 9, 2025 2:40 AM

Former cricketers Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan back Indian forces amid Pakistan tensions

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, former Indian cricketers Virender Sehwag and Shikhar Dhawan expressed strong support for the Indian Armed Forces, stating that India will respond appropriately to recent provocations. Sehwag took to his official X handle and wrote: "War has been chosen by Pakistan when they had an opportunity to keep quiet. They have escalated to save their terrorist assets — speaks so much about them. Our forces will reply in the most appropriate manner, a ma...

September 16, 2024 5:58 PM

India seeks expedited S-400 missile system deliveries from Russia

Amid the growing close ties between India and Russia, New Delhi has asked Moscow to expedite and advance the deliveries of the S-400 air defence missile system deliveries. The request comes amid delays caused by Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. According to current projections, the fourth and fifth squadrons of the highly capable system are expected to be delivered by March 2026 and October 2026, respectively. India and Russia signed a contract in 2019 for five squadrons of the S-400 sy...

September 16, 2024 5:59 PM

Indian Air Force contingent lands in Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Back 2024

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has touched down at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin, ready to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2024, set to be the largest iteration in the event's 43-year history. Scheduled from July 12 to August 2, this biennial multinational exercise will bring together 20 countries, featuring over 140 aircraft and 4,400 military personnel. The name 'Pitch Black' reflects the exercise's emphasis on nighttime flying over vast, unpopulated areas. The IAF contin...