News for 'Indian Air Force'

The Gulf War: What's Pakistan Up To?

The Gulf War: What's Pakistan Up To?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad in what analysts say is the formal opening of a new diplomatic formation that could reshape the post-war regional order. Their immediate goal is a ceasefire; their larger ambition is to ensure that neither Iran nor Israel emerges from this war in a dominant position. Pakistan's foreign minister then flew directly to Beijing and mooted a Chinese role as guarantor of any eventual agreement. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

DGCA Flight Duty Relaxation Sparks Pilot Safety Alarm

DGCA Flight Duty Relaxation Sparks Pilot Safety Alarm

Rediff.com17 Mar 2026

'Extending 'flight duty period' and 'flight time' limits for minimum crew complement operations increases exposure to fatigue-related performance degradation'

India to buy UK's multirole missiles in $468 mn deal to boost airpower

India to buy UK's multirole missiles in $468 mn deal to boost airpower

Rediff.com10 Oct 2025

India and the UK have announced a series of defence cooperation initiatives, including a USD 468 million deal for the supply of lightweight multirole missile systems to enhance India's air defence capabilities.

On Air Force Day, IAF chief announces new weapon system branch

On Air Force Day, IAF chief announces new weapon system branch

Rediff.com8 Oct 2022

This is the first time since Independence that a new operational branch is being created, Chaudhari said in his speech on the occasion of 90th anniversary celebrations of the IAF.

'Pakistan's Retaliation Will Invite More Indian Attacks'

'Pakistan's Retaliation Will Invite More Indian Attacks'

Rediff.com9 May 2025

'The Pakistani State has to realise that the pigeons have come home to roost.'

When I Stood At The India-Pakistan Border In Jaisalmer

When I Stood At The India-Pakistan Border In Jaisalmer

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

At Border Pillar 609 at Babliyan near Jaisalmer, the one thing that dominates the landscape is something entirely different, something central to our identity -- the Tiranga -- flying boldly above the blazing desert.

President Murmu poses with woman pilot claimed to have captured by Pak

President Murmu poses with woman pilot claimed to have captured by Pak

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

President Droupadi Murmu, who undertook a half-an-hour sortie in a Rafale fighter jet on Wednesday from Ambala, posed with Squadron leader Shivangi Singh, just before she took to the skies.

Will Iran Have The Last Laugh In The Gulf War?

Will Iran Have The Last Laugh In The Gulf War?

Rediff.com27 Mar 2026

16 days into the war, US forces were already running out of ground-attack missiles and Israel is about to expend its entire Arrow interceptor missiles by end March. To be sure, the Iranians are watching closely and that explains their defiant stance that 'Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its conditions are met', notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IAF sends proposal to govt for 114 'Made in India' Rafale fighter jets

IAF sends proposal to govt for 114 'Made in India' Rafale fighter jets

Rediff.com12 Sep 2025

The proposal, expected to be worth over Rs 2 lakh crore, including the indigenous content of more than 60 percent, is expected to be taken up for discussion by the Defence Procurement Board headed by the defence secretary in the next few weeks.

Op Sindoor impact: IAF, Navy to place mega orders for BrahMos missiles

Op Sindoor impact: IAF, Navy to place mega orders for BrahMos missiles

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

The Navy would be using the missiles for equipping its Veer-class warships while the Indian Air Force would be using them to equip its Russian-origin Su-30 MKI fighter jet fleet, the sources said.

Indian Military's Awesome 3

Indian Military's Awesome 3

Rediff.com28 May 2025

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Field Marshal K M Cariappa Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh The three highest-ranking military heroes of the Indian Armed Forces. They were the rarest of the rare. The bravest of the brave.

Jaya slams Lankan air force training near Chennai

Jaya slams Lankan air force training near Chennai

Rediff.com5 Jul 2012

Taking objection to the training being imparted to Sri Lankan Air Force personnel at an Indian Air Force base near Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa on Thursday urged the Centre to immediately cancel the programme and send back the personnel to the island nation.

Air force veterans critical of IAF being 'supporting arm' remark by CDS

Air force veterans critical of IAF being 'supporting arm' remark by CDS

Rediff.com3 Jul 2021

'The statement that Indian Air Force is supporting arm to the other two services is incorrect and wrong'

India to procure more Israeli Heron MK-II drones post Op Sindoor

India to procure more Israeli Heron MK-II drones post Op Sindoor

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

The sources declined to specify the number of drones the Navy plans to acquire but said the focus is now on manufacturing the MK-II in India through partnerships with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Elcom.

Lockheed Martin plans C-130J Super Hercules co-production hub in India

Lockheed Martin plans C-130J Super Hercules co-production hub in India

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

Lockheed Martin plans to establish a C-130J Super Hercules co-production facility in India, the first outside the US, as the IAF seeks to procure new transport aircraft.

This War May End US Military Presence In Middle East

This War May End US Military Presence In Middle East

Rediff.com9 Mar 2026

'The entire US ecosystem built over decades at the bases in the Gulf region, especially the UAE, costing trillions of dollars have been decimated, dealing a mortal blow to the US Central Command's war capability,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'For region to be secure....': Iran urges American exit from West Asia

'For region to be secure....': Iran urges American exit from West Asia

Rediff.com15 Mar 2026

On Saturday, it was reported that a drone strike had targeted the Fujairah Port in the UAE, triggering a fire.

'To ease pressure': Trump on Russian oil waiver to India

'To ease pressure': Trump on Russian oil waiver to India

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

When asked about Bessent's announcement allowing certain Russian oil sales to India and whether the US is considering any other moves, including tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Trump said, "If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off."

Pakistan creates new post of Chief of Defence Forces

Pakistan creates new post of Chief of Defence Forces

Rediff.com8 Nov 2025

Pakistan on Saturday brought in a Constitutional amendment to create a new post of chief of defence forces to ensure greater coordination and unified command among the three services.

How AI Is Changing The Gulf War

How AI Is Changing The Gulf War

Rediff.com24 Mar 2026

AI reduces the time taken to find a target and launch a strike. This has led to a major increase in the pace of the conflict, with one report mentioning nearly 900 strikes launched on Iranian targets in the first 12 hours of an operation.

Trump Is Caught Between Two Bad Options

Trump Is Caught Between Two Bad Options

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

Fight on toward goals that keep receding, or exit with most objectives unmet. Trump is agitated, his poll numbers falling below the Plimsoll line, his base fractured between those who back the war and those who remember that he campaigned on ending them.

Can India Solve The Air Pollution Problem?

Can India Solve The Air Pollution Problem?

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

Mundane as it may seem, this is in some ways a metaphor for the challenges facing the nation, argue Arvind Subramanian and Devesh Kapur in their new book, A Sixth Of Humanity.

Fuel curbs brew concern over Darjeeling first flush

Fuel curbs brew concern over Darjeeling first flush

Rediff.com18 Mar 2026

Tea planters in Darjeeling have raised that a shortage of commercial LPG, triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, could hit tea processing during the first flush, the delicate early-season harvest that commands the highest premiums and often sets the tone for the year.

Why Our Military Leaders Must Be Diligent

Why Our Military Leaders Must Be Diligent

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

The armed forces of India will be wise to remember that its public interface needs to be tempered with discretion, maturity and example, keeping in mind the nation's multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric which is its greatest strength but which can also become its biggest fault-line, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

Tyagi is new Air Force chief

Tyagi is new Air Force chief

Rediff.com31 Oct 2004

Air Marshal S P Tyagi has been named the next Chief of the Indian Air Force.

Why Delhi govt to feed 1,275 kg of boneless chicken to birds ahead of R-Day

Why Delhi govt to feed 1,275 kg of boneless chicken to birds ahead of R-Day

Rediff.com10 Jan 2026

'This is an annual preventive exercise undertaken before the Republic Day air show. Birds such as black kites are naturally drawn to open areas and food sources, and if they enter the flying corridor, they can pose a serious hazard to aircraft performing low-level manoeuvres'

P V Sindhu Stranded In Dubai; Set To Miss All England Badminton Championships

P V Sindhu Stranded In Dubai; Set To Miss All England Badminton Championships

Rediff.com2 Mar 2026

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is likely to miss the All England Championships due to travel disruptions caused by airspace closures in the Gulf region.

Trump Won't Decide What Happens Next In The War

Trump Won't Decide What Happens Next In The War

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

'The next two to three weeks will not be decided in Washington.' 'They will be decided in Tehran, in whatever calculation Iran makes about the costs of continued resistance against the costs of appearing to have yielded.'

War Fallout: UAE Challenger Halted; Medvedev, Rublev Delayed

War Fallout: UAE Challenger Halted; Medvedev, Rublev Delayed

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

Travel disruptions following airspace closures in the Gulf have forced Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev to miss an Indian Wells exhibition, while an ATP Challenger in Fujairah was cancelled amid security concerns.

9 IAF officers get Vir Chakra for Operation Sindoor

9 IAF officers get Vir Chakra for Operation Sindoor

Rediff.com14 Aug 2025

As festivities for Independence Day begin, the Centre on Thursday awarded Vir Chakra to nine Indian Air Force officers for their brave contributions in the service of the nation during Operation Sindoor.

Air Force, Navy chiefs to get Z-plus security

Air Force, Navy chiefs to get Z-plus security

Rediff.com2 Mar 2019

Army chief General Bipin Rawat has already been given the Z-plus security.

MiG-21 flies through Indian skies for last time

MiG-21 flies through Indian skies for last time

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

The legendary Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jets, the the backbone of the Indian Air Force's combat fleet for more than six decades, streaked through Indian skies for the last time on Friday -- its final adieu edged in history and many a remembrance.

Air Force bases on high alert over terror threat

Air Force bases on high alert over terror threat

Rediff.com25 Sep 2019

An orange alert has been sounded for Srinagar, Avantipur, Jammu, Pathankot, Hindon airbases after the monitoring of the terrorists' movements by the intelligence agencies.

Air Force's biggest air exercise next week

Air Force's biggest air exercise next week

Rediff.com30 Aug 2006

Though ythe IAF has for the past few years been participating in bilateral exercises with foreign air forces, this will be the first exclusive IAF exercise in seven years.\n

IRIS Dena sinking: Navy sends Tarangini, Ikshak to assist Sri Lanka

IRIS Dena sinking: Navy sends Tarangini, Ikshak to assist Sri Lanka

Rediff.com5 Mar 2026

The vessel sank on March 4, 2026, approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle, after reportedly being struck by a torpedo from a United States submarine.

Republic Day parade to see next-gen Army officers leading contingents

Republic Day parade to see next-gen Army officers leading contingents

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

Army officers share their experiences and details about the contingents and displays that will be part of the Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path.

IAF carries out 'Exercise Aakraman' wth Rafales, Su-30s in central sector

IAF carries out 'Exercise Aakraman' wth Rafales, Su-30s in central sector

Rediff.com25 Apr 2025

The exercise is taking place at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan have gone up after the Pahalgam attack.

CDS calls Air Force a support arm; IAF chief disagrees

CDS calls Air Force a support arm; IAF chief disagrees

Rediff.com3 Jul 2021

Gen Rawat's comments about the supporting role of the Air Force came at a conference when asked about the growing perception that the Indian Air Force was not keen on setting up the proposed theatre commands integrating the capabilities of the three forces.

Shivshankar Menon: 'Pakistan's Insider Threat Is Serious'

Shivshankar Menon: 'Pakistan's Insider Threat Is Serious'

Rediff.com27 Mar 2026

'Pakistan's is the only military-controlled nuclear weapons programme in the world.' 'As people get radicalised, the risk of a brigadier or pilot taking matters into their own hands is a real concern.'

Oscar winner Keeravani to lead music for R-Day mega cultural show

Oscar winner Keeravani to lead music for R-Day mega cultural show

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

The broader theme of the performance will be -- 'Swatantra Ka Mantra - Vande Mataram' and 'Samriddhi Ka Mantra - Viksit Bharat', officials said.