No. 223 Squadron IAF

No. 223 Squadron
Badge of No. 223 Squadron IAF"The Tridents".
Active 10 May 1982 - Present
Country India Republic of India
Branch  Indian Air Force
Role Fighter
Garrison/HQ Adampur AFS
Nickname(s) "Tridents"
Motto(s) Vijayastra Amoghastra
Weapon for Victory
Aircraft flown
Attack MiG-29B[1]

No. 223 Squadron (Tridents) is a fighter squadron and is equipped with MiG-29B and based at Adampur AFS.[2]

History

223 Squadron IAF was formed on 10 May 1982. It was the first Squadron in the IAF to be equipped with MiG-23 MF . The Squadron had the unique distinction of operating MiG-23s from Leh airport one of the highest airfields a fighter has ever operated from. The Squadron was christened The Swing Wing Interceptors in accordance with the aircraft it operated then.

In May 1989, the phasing out of MiG-23s started. Induction of the MiG-29s commenced in early 1990 and within a few months the Squadron had its full complement of aircraft and was fully operational. Since the swing wing was no more applicable the Squadron changed its nickname to Tridents.[3]

The squadron's crest shows the striking end of the "Vajra" or "Trident". As per Indian mythology, this three pronged weapon, is Lord Indra's powerful thunderbolt.[4]

Aircraft

References

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