No. 17 Squadron IAF

No. 17 Squadron is a squadron of the Indian Air Force stationed at Ambala AFS as part of Western Air Command.[2][3] The squadron was number-plated in 2016, but was resurrected in Ambala on 11 September 2019 with Dassault Rafales.[4]

No. 17 Squadron
Country India
Branch Indian Air Force
RoleFighter
Garrison/HQAmbala Air Force Station
Nickname(s)"Golden Arrows"
Motto(s)Udayām Ajasram
Arise Forever
Commanders
Commanding OfficerGroup Captain Harkirat Singh[1]
Aircraft flown
FighterDassault Rafale

History

No. 17 Squadron was raised in Ambala on 1 October 1951 under the command of Flight Lieutenant D.L. Springett.[4] It initially flew Harvard-II B. It was moved from the East to Delhi during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War to provide air cover for the capital.[5]

It was awarded its President's Standard on 8 November 1988 at Palam.[6]

Feature Film based on the Golden Arrows

A film is being produced on the Golden Arrows squadron based on the 1999 Kargil war. The film is dedicated to Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja who was flight commander of 17 Squadron, Golden Arrows. Wing commander Birender Singh Dhanoa was the Squadron Commander who later became the Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force. The film is being directed by Kushal Srivastava. [7][8]

Aircraft

Aircraft types operated by the squadron:

Aircraft TypeFromToAir Base
Harvard-II B1 October 1951October 1955Ambala AFS[9][2]
de Havilland VampireNovember 19551957Ambala AFS[9][2]
Hawker Hunter19571975Ambala AFS[9][2]
MIG-2119752016Bathinda AFS[10][2]
Dassault Rafale21 September 2019presentAmbala AFS[4]

References
  1. "Rafale can be deployed at short notice, says defence minister Rajnath Singh - The Financial Express". www.financialexpress.com. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  2. "Resurrection Ceremony for 17 Squadron 'GOLDEN ARROWS'". PIB India. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  3. etc, Mottos, Raising Dates, Location. "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat-Rakshak.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. "IAF resurrects 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows' for Rafale". thehindu.com. New Delhi. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  5. Indian Air Force in Wars by Air Vice Marshal Arun Kumar Tiwary
  6. "Honour & Awards - Units - President Standards". IndianAirForce.nic.in. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. "Film 'Golden Arrows' on life of former IAF Chief BS Dhanoa announced". Russia Herald.
  8. "After Gunjan Saxena, another film on IAF announced; Golden Arrows to be based on former chief BS Dhanoa - Entertainment News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 15 August 2020.
  9. "Golden Arrows Complete 60 Years of Glorious Service to the Nation". 16 November 2011.
  10. "IAF's Golden Arrows Squadron, led by Air Chief Dhanoa during Kargil war, to be resurrected for Rafale". 9 September 2019.


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