Tag: Vir Chakra

Balakot airstrike hero Abhinandan Varthaman awarded Vir Chakra

Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army on February 27, 2019 after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with the Pakistani jets. Before his jet was hit, he downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter.

November 22, 2021

IAF Sqn No 222 re-energized with Tigersharks

The squadron launched counter airstrikes against Risalewala and Chander airfields with immense success despite intense enemy opposition, then at that time.

January 21, 2020

Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman, who downed Pak F-16, flies MiG-21 with IAF chief

The Indian Air Force Chief is also a MiG-21 pilot and had flown the planes during the 1999 Kargil war while commanding the 17 Squadron, during the war.

September 2, 2019

IAF pilot Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman to be awarded Vir Chakra on Independence Day

Varthaman became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force.

August 14, 2019