Current Affairs - Defence - Discussion

The Indian Air Force’s No. 17 Squadron, known as the Golden Arrows, celebrated its Platinum Jubilee at Ambala Airbase on October 1, 2026. The squadron was established on October 1, 1951, at Ambala and became the first IAF unit to operate Rafale fighter jets. Over the decades, it participated in major military operations, including the Goa Liberation, the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan Wars, the Kargil Conflict, and Operation Sindoor. The squadron has operated several aircraft types, including Harvard-II B, de Havilland Vampire, Hawker Hunter, MiG-21 and Dassault Rafale. It is also the highest decorated squadron of the Kargil War.