No. 17 Squadron IAF

No. 17 Squadron
Country India
Branch Indian Air Force
RoleFighter
Garrison/HQAmbala Air Force Station Vasdar air force station
Nickname"Golden Arrows"
MottosUdayām Ajasram
Arise Forever
Commanders
Commanding OfficerGroup Captain Rohit Kataria[1]
Aircraft flown
FighterDassault Rafale

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

History

Formed in October 1951 at Adampur under the command of Flight Lieutenant D.L. Springett, No. 17 Squadron was the last of four squadrons raised in rapid succession as part of the IAF's emergency response to rising regional tensions. Initially equipped with Harvard aircraft, it later transitioned to Vampires.[5]

Hawker Hunters from the Squadron participated in Operation Vijay in 1961.[6] Six Hunters of No.17 Sqn led by the CO, Sqn. Ldr. Jayawant Singh took off from Sambra and attacked the Wireless station at Bambolim with a mixture of rockets and cannon fire.[7]

It was moved from the East to Delhi during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War to provide air cover for the capital.[8]

During the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, under the command of Wing Commander Narinder Chatrath, No. 17 Squadron conducted a significant attack on the Kurmitola airbase near Dhaka. In this mission, Chatrath engaged two Pakistan Air Force Sabres, successfully shooting down one. For his leadership and bravery, he was awarded the Vir Chakra.[9]

It was awarded its President's Standard on 8 November 1988 at Palam.[10]

In 1999, the squadron participated in the Kargil War under Operation Safed Sagar, the code name of the Indian Air Force's operations in the conflict.[11] Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja of the squadron was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for bravery for his role in the conflict.[12]

Currently based at Ambala and equipped with India's first squadron of Dassault Rafale, the squadron has participated in the 2025 India Pakistan conflict.[13]

Affiliation with the Indian Army

On 4 October 2021, the Squadron's affiliation with the Indian Army's Sikh Light Infantry regiment was formally signed at the Ambala Air Force Station.[14]

The Indian Army Chief M. M. Naravane and Air Commodore Tarun Chaudhry of 17 Squadron signed the charter of affiliation.[15]

Aircraft

Aircraft types operated by the squadron:

Aircraft typeFromToAir base
Harvard-II B1 October 1951October 1955Ambala AFS[2][16]
de Havilland VampireNovember 19551957
Hawker Hunter19571975
MiG-2119752016Bathinda AFS[2][17]
Dassault Rafale21 September 2019PresentAmbala AFS[4]

The Netflix series named Operation Safed Sagar, released in August 2026 was based on the 1999 Kargil war, and the role of the 'Golden Arrows' squadron in particular.[11] The series is dedicated to Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja (played in this series by Siddharth) who was flight commander of 17 Squadron, Golden Arrows. Wing commander Birender Singh Dhanoa (played in this series by Jimmy Sheirgill) was the Squadron Commander who later became the Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force. The show is produced by Kushal Srivastava.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ Bhalla, Abhishek (12 March 2021). "Commanding Officer of first Rafale squadron transferred after seven months". www.indiatoday.in. India Today. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 "IAF resurrects 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows' for Rafale". thehindu.com. New Delhi. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Gupta, Anchit (4 May 2025). "The Emergency Teen Squadrons: IAF's Quiet Expansion in 1951". IAFHistory. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  6. ↑ USI-Journal-Oct-Dec-2013-91-99.pdf
  7. ↑ Pillarisetti, Jagan (20 July 2009). "The Liberation of Goa – An Overview". Indian Air Force. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Indian Air Force in Wars by Air Vice Marshal Arun Kumar Tiwary
  9. ↑ Gupta, Anchit (18 June 2022). "In Memoriam: Air Cmde Narinder Chatrath's Service to the Nation". IAFHistory. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "Honour & Awards - Units - President Standards". IndianAirForce.nic.in. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Op Safed Sagar to now: How India spies on enemy positions from the air". Indian Express. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Bora, Anurag Singh (11 August 2026). "Operation Safed Sagar: Ajay Ahuja and the Kargil story behind Siddharth's role". India Today. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Sharma, Shivani (13 August 2025). "Rafale warriors of Ambala: 100 days after Operation Sindoor precision strikes". India Today. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Affiliation of IAF 17 Squadron with Army's Sikh Light Infantry regiment signed". www.outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Indian Army's Sikh Light Infantry regiment signs affiliation with IAF's 17 squadron in Ambala". Firstpost. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Golden Arrows Complete 60 Years of Glorious Service to the Nation". 16 November 2011.
  17. ↑ "IAF's Golden Arrows Squadron, led by Air Chief Dhanoa during Kargil war, to be resurrected for Rafale". 9 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "Film 'Golden Arrows' on life of former IAF Chief BS Dhanoa announced". Russia Herald.
  19. ↑ "After Gunjan Saxena, another film on IAF announced; Golden Arrows to be based on former chief BS Dhanoa". Firstpost. 15 August 2020.
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