The old and the new. 18 Sqn “Flying Bullets” last flew the MiG-27ML Flogger (aka “Bahadur”), received its first @HALHQBLR Tejas LCA today.

18 Squadron was raised in Apr 65 flying Gnats at Ambala under Wg Cdr Aubrey Michael. They could not fight the war that year but some pilots were sent to other Gnat units, and Sqn Ldr KC Khanna was even awarded a Vayusena Medal ( http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4722).

The squadron’s finest hour came in 1971 when Fg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon laid down his life against overwhelming odds in an epic defence of Srinagar. Sekhon was awarded the @IAF_MCC’s first and only Param Vir Chakra. 18 Sqn received Battle Honours for its role in the War.

18 Squadron transitioned to the HAL Ajeet in 1979-1980. They switched types less than a decade later, moving to Hindon in 1989 to begin conversion to the MiG-27ML under the command of Wg Cdr BS Yadav. Then moved to the East in 1996.

18 squadron was awarded the President’s Standard in November 2015 under the command of Gp Capt KJ Singh, who was the last MiG-27 CO. The Flying Bullets then number plated in March 2016, before being reactivated in 2020 in advance of receiving their new Tejas Mk.1 FOC jets.