Twenty-eight years ago, on August 25, 1981, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Mig-25 “Garuda” flew its first sortie. the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Idris Latif and Wing Commander Apram Jeet Singh of the 102 Squadron were the pilots of Mig-25’s maiden flight. IAF Launches Mobile-Based Air Combat Game ‘Indian Air Force: A Cut Above’ to Attract More Youth to Join The Force.
The IAF in a tweet on Sunday said, “#YearsBack on This Day #IAF: On 25 Aug 81, IAF’s mighty Mig-25 flew its first sortie. Wg Cdr AJ Singh, CO, 102 Sqn and the then CAS, ACM Idris Latif were the pilots in its maiden flight. Mig-25, ‘Garuda’, is one of the fastest fighters ever to have entered military service.”
IAF’s Tweet:
#YearsBack on This Day #IAF: On 25 Aug 81, IAF’s mighty Mig-25 flew its first sortie. Wg Cdr AJ Singh, CO, 102 Sqn and the then CAS, ACM Idris Latif were the pilots in its maiden flight. Mig-25, ‘Garuda’, is one of the fastest fighters ever to have entered military service. pic.twitter.com/AG2dRZ7AhQ
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 25, 2019
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. It was designed by the Soviet Union’s Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau and is one of the few combat aircraft built primarily using stainless steel. IAF to Receive First Batch of Rafale Jets Next Month; Warplanes to be Equipped With SCALP Missiles by 2020.
After its induction into the IAF, Mig-25 was designated as “Garuda”. It was also used extensively in the Kargil War and Operation Parakram, conducting aerial reconnaissance sorties over Pakistan. The aircraft was retired from the service from the IAF in 2007 due to lack of spare parts and India’s acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite imagery.
(Picture Courtesy: Twitter/Indian Air Force)
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