No. 104 Helicopter Squadron, IAF explained

Unit Name:No. 104 Helicopter Squadron
Dates:10 March 1954- Present
Country: Republic of India
Garrison:Suratgarh AFS
Nickname:"Pioneer Rotarians"
Motto:Apatsu Mitram
A friend in time of need
Aircraft Attack:Mil Mi-35

No. 104 Helicopter Squadron (Pioneer Rotarians) is a fighter squadron and is equipped with Mil Mi-35 and based at Suratgarh Air Force Station.[1]

History

The acquisition of Sikorsky S-55 in 1954 heralded the creation of the first Helicopter Flight within the IAF, and in 1958 become established as the first dedicated Helicopter Unit, No. 104 Helicopter Squadron.[2]

The IAF S-55s were later phased out in 1966 inducting other helicopter types into service, such as the Mil Mi-35 model in 1990.[3]

As of November 2022, the Mi-35s of the Squadron is undergoing complete overhauls in Russia in two batches. The first batch was already in Russia by then while the entire process is to be completed by mid-2023. Overhaul of each batch shall take 6-8 months. The overhaul would increase its service life by 6 years keeping them active beyond this decade.[4] [5] [6]

Assignments

Aircraft

! Aircraft !! From !! To !! Air Base
10 March 1954 March 1965 Palam AFS[7]
March 1965 May 1967 Hindan AFS
May 1967 N/A Saharanpur AFS
N/A N/A
April 1990 April 1995 Bhatinda AFS
May 1995 Present Suratgarh AFS

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Squadrons and Helicopter Units. Bharat Rakshak. 4 December 2015.
  2. Web site: Sikorsky S-55 : The First Helicopters of the Indian Air Force.
  3. Web site: Our Strength . 4 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921003625/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=13 . 21 September 2013 . dead .
  4. News: Peri . Dinakar . 2022-11-22 . IAF Mi-35 attack helicopters undergoing overhaul, to add six years life . 2024-10-18 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  5. Web site: IAF Mi-35 Attack Helicopters Undergoing Overhaul, To Add Six Years Life . 2024-10-18.
  6. Web site: 2023-02-10 . IAF’s Mi-35 attack helicopters undergoing overhaul in Russia - Defence & Aerospace Research Forum . 2024-10-18 . en-US.
  7. Web site: No.104 Helicopter Squadron Firebirds. Bharat Rakshak. 2022-08-30.