Recording IAF History
Vayuand ‘Op SafedSagar’
On 16 July 2019, the Government of India and its armed forces marked the 20th anniversary of what has become known as ‘Kargil 1999’, the Indian Army referring to those actions in the high mountains as Operation Vijay while the Air Force remembers as this as Operation SafedSagar which perhaps is haunting reminder as to many differences of perspective. Present Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, who was then commanding No.17 Squadron with MiG-21Ms forward-based at Srinagar addressed a special Seminar (20 years ofOp SafedSagar) at Subroto Park, New Delhi and recalled that there then were operational limitations but innovative ways adopted by the IAF overcame difficulties during that conflict.
"Over a period of time, the Air Force has evolved in a manner that we have through a process of long our long planning and induction. Slowly, we got our ability to take part in operations across the spectrum of the conflict. It is now a force that is capable of full spectrum conflict, from sub-conventional to nuclear," the Air Force Chief said.
"In 1999 (precision bombing capabilities) wereoperationalisedonly on the Mirage 2000 aircraft. Now all aircraft, Mirage 2000, Su-30, Jaguar, MiG-29 and MiG-27 have the capability for precision bombing. Not only that, in case we have correct coordinates we can do all-weather bombing through clouds very accurately," the CAS said. He continued with the statement that the “Balakot strike (on 26 February 2019) demonstrated the IAF’s ability of precision bombing, asserting that it is capable of taking part in full spectrum of conflict, ranging from sub-conventional to nuclear”.
20 years later, the Vayu Aerospace Review recalls that it was only journal to have covered that war, virtually as it took place, with its Issue IV/1999 publishing the war diary, day-to-day from 26 May 1999, till the ceasefire on 16 July 1999,the date set by India for all Pakistani intruders to withdraw to well north of the Pakistani side of the Line of Control.
In the following issue (V/1999) detailed analysis of the air operations was given, including the CAS Air Chief Marshal Anil Tipnis’s first hand statements plus detailed briefings by Air Marshal VinodPatney, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command.Framed for posterity was the laconic statement made at the time as the IAF Mirage 2000s and MiG-27MLs and MiG-23BMs, using 250kg iron bombs and improvised LGBs struck at targets “specially identified as tactically extremely important and so addressed with a corresponding larger weight of attack. The IAF is a mature service, not easily given to hyperbole but in the case of this attack …. the word obliterated does come to mind”.
The ceasefire was effective on 16 July and uniquely, then Managing Editor of the VayuAerospace Review was flown to Srinagar, met with various Squadron and Station Commanders, including then WgCdrBirender Singh Dhanoa, CO No.17 Squadron (now the CAS) and later by helicopter on to Drass from where the final army assaults were mounted. He then helicoptered to Point 4875, which critical feature west of Tiger Hill had been captured on the night of 4-5 July.
Before flying back to Delhi, Vayubriefly met and interacted with the then AOC J&K Station Commanders of Srinagar and Awanthipur as also COs of the MiG-21M and MiG-27ML squadrons. Thatbrief visit enabled the recording, firsthand, of the IAF at its operational timeduring Operation SafedSagar, with some images, having first appeared 20 years ago,are reproduced for readers.
(Left to Rght) : Then WgCdrBirender Singh Dhanoa, CO No.17 Squadron, WgCdr KT Sebastian, Air CdreMi\ohenderKhanna, GpCapt DN Ganesh, GpCaptJitinder Singh Dhillon and WgCdr NK Tandon, CO, No.51 Squadron at Srinagar airfield, 16 July 1999
MiG-27ML of No.9 Squadron being loaded with free fall bombs, (note ‘yehdil mange more’ chalked on the bomb).
WgCdrHarjinder Singh Jallawalia, CO No.108 Squadron flying MiG-21Ms
Cover of Vayu Issue IV/1999 :Dramatic photo of Mi-17of No.152 HU lifting off from Drass in the shadow of the Tololing ridge. The characteristic shape of Tiger Hill is framed between the rotorblades