The fateful Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by an Indian missile when Indian air defences were on high alert following the February 26 Balakot airstrike that targetted a terrorist camp in Pakistan. The helicopter crashed near Budgam, killing all six Indian Air Force personnel on board.
IAF jets struck at a JeM camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 earlier this year, days after a terror attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu Kashmir's Pulwama which claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel.
The IAF carried out the strikes days after a terror attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu Kashmir's Pulwama which claimed the lives of over 40 paramilitary personnel.
The first squadron of the Rafale aircraft will be deployed at Ambala Air Force Station, considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF around 200 kilometres from the India- Pakistan border.
Indian Air Force choppers in action during the full dress rehearsal of the upcoming Indian Air Force Day on 8th October, at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad on Sunday.
Abhinandan shot down a Pakistan F-16 near the Line of Control and landed on the Pakistan side. He was then apprehended by the officials of the Pakistani Army on the same day and taken into custody. Abhinandan returned to India on March 1. He was in Pakistani custody for two days.
The video was released by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on the occasion of Indian Air Force Day.
The first Rafale Aircraft to be inducted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in France will also have the tail number RB-01 written on it in recognition of the role played by the officer in it.
The orange alert is the second-highest level of alert second only to Red alert which, if issued, would entail closing of schools and restriction on movements in airbases.
The Indian Air Force will deploy one squadron each of the Rafale combat aircraft at its airbases in Ambala in Haryana and Hashimara in West Bengal.
