Resurrection of No.18 Squadron, IAF

In face of continued depletion of the IAF’s frontline combat squadrons, the dwindling number having been officially revealed during the Defence Minister’s interaction with media in midNovember (down to 33 in 2017), is the announcement by Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, CAS, that No.18 Squadron, which was number plated when flying MiG-27MLs some years back, will be resurrected with the Tejas LCA. This was announced during the ceremony to honour the late Flg Offr Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the only PVC awardee of the IAF, when flying Gnats in the Defence of Srinagar in December 1971 ( representative image is of Tejas LCA during cold weather-high altitude trials at Leh).