No. 23 Squadron IAF
| No. 23 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1957 - Present |
| Country |  Republic of India |
| Branch |  Indian Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Garrison/HQ | AFS NAL |
| Nickname(s) | "Panthers" |
| Motto(s) | Amritham Abhayam Immortal and Fearless |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | MiG-21 Bison |
No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) is a fighter squadron and is equipped with MiG-21Bison and based at AFS NAL.[1][2]
History
[edit]The squadron was raised in the year 1956 and it became the first squadron in Indian Air Force to be commissioned with Folland Gnat.[3]
The squadron was relocated to AFS NAL in June 2024 and will be in use with its sister squadron No. 3 Squadron. The move was done to streamline the maintenance and operability of the MiG-21. Both the squadrons will transition to the newly ordered Tejas Mk1A.[2]
While the Indian Air Force officially retires the MiG-21 Bison from active service, an official farewell ceremony is expected to be held at Chandigarh Air Force Station on 19 September 2025. The last of the aircraft are from this squadron.[4]
Assignments
[edit]Aircraft
[edit]| Aircraft | From | To | Air Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland Vampire | November 1956 | January 1960 | |
| Folland Gnat | February 1960 | January 1978 | |
| MiG-21 bis | February 1978 | July 2005 | |
| MiG-21 Bison | July 2005 | June 2024 | AFS Suratgarh |
| June 2024 | Present | AFS NAL |
References
[edit]- ^ "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ a b Singh, Rahul (28 June 2024). "IAF relocates MiG-21s to Nal base as it prepares to replace the fleet". Hindustan Times.
- ^ @IAF_MCC (1 October 2020). "No 23 Sqn 'Panthers' raised in the year 1956, went on to become the first 'Gnat' squadron of IAF. The Sqn in 196 5War achieved its first aerial kill & earned the title SabreSlayers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Pubby, Manu (22 July 2025). "From warhorse to legend: MiG-21 to bow out after 62 years in Indian skies". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "How-Indian-Air-Force-Came-of-Age-in-1965". New Ind Express. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
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