Indian Air Force

Timeline

1. 8 Oct2026
   Defence

   Indian Air Force marks 94th anniversary on 8 October¹²

   IAF Day 2026 carried the theme Infallible, Impervious and Precise. The force was raised on 8 October 1932.

   • 94th Indian Air Force Day observed on 8 October 2026
   • IAF was established on 8 October 1932
   • Theme: Indian Air Force: Infallible, Impervious and Precise
2. 9 Sep2026
   Defence

   Exercise Veer Guardian 2026: IAF and Japan Air Self-Defense Force train in Jodhpur³⁴

   The second edition ran at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 9 September 2026 (JASDF gives 9 to 21 September; some reports say 22), with JASDF F-2A fighters operating in India for the first time.

   • JASDF dates: 9 to 21 September 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur
   • JASDF sent 3 F-2A fighters and about 110 personnel
   • IAF flew Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale
   • First edition January 2023 at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan
3. 1 Sep2026
   Defence

   Shakti Sharma becomes first non-medical woman Air Vice Marshal⁵⁶

   She took charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) on 1 September 2026; she earlier commanded Sainik School Kapurthala.

   • Took charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) on 1 September 2026
   • Commissioned into the IAF Education Branch on 18 June 1994
   • AVM equals Major General and Rear Admiral
4. 6 Aug2026
   Defence

   Sqn Ldr Bhawana Kanth is first IAF woman to complete Fighter Combat Leader course⁷⁸

   Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first Indian woman fighter pilot to complete the Fighter Combat Leader course at TACDE, Gwalior, the IAF's 'Top Gun' school.

   • First woman to complete the Fighter Combat Leader course at TACDE
   • Course described as about 20 weeks
   • One of the IAF's first women fighter pilots, commissioned June 2016 with Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh
   • First Indian woman cleared for day fighter combat missions (MiG-21 Bison), May 2019
5. 2 Aug2026
   Defence

   IAF concludes Exercise ROTOR CLAPP-III on helicopter counter-drone operations at Pokhran⁹¹⁰¹¹

   The IAF concluded the week-long Exercise Rotor Clapp-III at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, on 2 August 2026, testing helicopters against drone threats on the theme Counter-UAS.

   • Concluded 2 August 2026 at Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan
   • Theme: Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems
   • Nearly all IAF helicopter types took part (Apache, Mi-25/35, Prachand, Chinook, Mi-17, ALH)
   • Tasks: strikes, reconnaissance, troop insertion, casevac, countering aerial and ground threats
6. 20 Jul2026
   Defence

   IAF Rafales join Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Darwin¹²¹³¹⁴

   The RAAF's multinational air combat exercise ran from 20 July to 7 August 2026 in northern Australia with up to 100 jets and over 2,500 personnel from about 20 nations. India sent four Rafale fighters with C-17 and IL-78 support, about 100 to 120 personnel, and opened with a flypast over Darwin.

   • Exercise ran 20 July to 7 August 2026 from RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal and Amberley
   • Up to 100 aircraft and over 2,500 personnel; about 20 nations
   • IAF sent four Rafales supported by a C-17 and an IL-78 tanker
   • IAF had also taken part in 2018, 2022 and 2024
7. 9 Jun2026
   Appointments

   Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named next Vice Chief of the Air Staff¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷

   Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named Vice Chief of the Air Staff; took charge 1 July 2026. Succeeded Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired on 30 June. Dixit was Chief of Integrated Defence Staff from 1 May 2025 to 30 June 2026.

   • Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named Vice Chief of the Air Staff; took charge 1 July 2026
   • Succeeded Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired on 30 June
   • Dixit was Chief of Integrated Defence Staff from 1 May 2025 to 30 June 2026
8. 26 May2026
   Defence

   IAF flies first night Bambi Bucket sorties to fight Kasauli forest fire¹⁸¹⁹²⁰

   A forest fire on Kasauli's western slopes in Himachal Pradesh on 26 May 2026 drew Mi-17 V5 helicopters that scooped water from Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. The IAF says it was its first Bambi Bucket operation at night using night vision goggles, with reports giving over 93,000 litres dropped in total.

   • Fire started about 3 pm on 26 May 2026 near Gilbert Trail and Upper Mall, Kasauli
   • Mi-17 V5 helicopters with Bambi Buckets drew water from Sukhna Lake
   • IAF calls it its first night Bambi Bucket operation, using night vision goggles
   • Each sortie carried about 2,000 to 2,500 litres; later reports total over 93,000 litres
9. 5 Mar2026
   Disasters

   IAF Su-30MKI crashes in Assam, two pilots killed^21222324

   An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed shortly after takeoff from Jorhat on a training sortie on 5 March, killing both pilots.

   • IAF Su-30MKI crashed on the night of 5 March 2026 after losing contact at about 7.42 pm on a training sortie from Jorhat
   • Wreckage found in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, about 60 km from base
   • Both pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, were killed
   • Cause not established

Exercise.Quizzes on Indian Air Force and every other topic arrive on Telegram six times a day, and what you get wrong comes back.

Practise on Telegram

Sources

1. The Hans India
2. NewKerala (IANS)
3. ThePrint
4. Japan Air Self-Defense Force
5. Onmanorama
6. The Pioneer
7. The Week
8. Business Today
9. The Week
10. ThePrint
11. Telangana Today
12. All India Radio
13. Australian Defence Magazine
14. IANS
15. The Tribune
16. ThePrint
17. Outlook India
18. Aviation and Defence Universe
19. IBTimes India
20. The Pioneer
21. Scroll.in
22. The Wire
23. Gulf News
24. ETV Bharat