The Indian Air Force turned 94 on Thursday, October 8, and it celebrated the way it does best – with a crisp ceremonial parade, a line-up of frontline combat aircraft and a sky full of pride. The main event of Air Force Day 2026 was held at the Hindan (Hindon) Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, where the three service chiefs, senior commanders and several former IAF chiefs gathered for the anniversary.
For Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, the day carried extra meaning. It is his last Air Force Day at the helm before he hands over charge at the end of this month.
What happened at Hindan today
The celebrations opened in the morning with a ceremonial parade by IAF personnel. In a touch that drew attention, the Air Chief arrived at the venue in a vintage car from the 1960s, while three helicopters flew overhead in the traditional "Dhwaj" formation carrying flags.
Visitors also got a close look at the force's combat muscle. A static display at the base featured some of the most important aircraft in the IAF inventory:
- Rafale – the French-built multirole fighter that has become the face of the IAF's modern strike capability
- Su-30 MKI – the backbone of the fighter fleet
- Jaguar – the long-serving deep-strike aircraft
- LCH Prachand – India's indigenous light combat helicopter
- ALH Dhruv – the HAL-built advanced light helicopter
Key weapon and air-defence systems were also put on show, giving families and young visitors a rare look at the equipment that guards India's skies.
Why October 8 is Air Force Day
The IAF was formally established on October 8, 1932, when India was still under British rule. Its first operational unit, No. 1 Squadron, came up the following year in 1933. The force was given the "Royal" prefix in recognition of its service during the Second World War, and dropped it in 1950 when India became a republic.
From a handful of aircraft in its early days, the IAF has grown into one of the largest air forces in the world. It has fought in every major conflict India has faced since Independence and has led some of the country's most important humanitarian and evacuation missions, at home and abroad.
The force's motto, Nabhah Sparsham Deeptam ("Touch the sky with glory"), is drawn from the Bhagavad Gita.
Air Force Day 2026: key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Occasion | 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force |
| Date | Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
| Main venue | Hindan Air Force Station, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Chief of the Air Staff | Air Chief Marshal A P Singh |
| Chief-designate | Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit |
| Founded | October 8, 1932 |
| Motto | Nabhah Sparsham Deeptam |
| Aircraft on static display | Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, LCH Prachand, ALH Dhruv |
A change of guard is around the corner
This year's anniversary comes at a moment of transition. The government has already named Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff. A fighter pilot by training, he will take over from Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, who retires on October 31.
The incoming chief inherits a force that has seen intense operational activity in recent years, but also one facing a well-known challenge: fighter numbers. The IAF currently operates around 30 fighter squadrons, well short of its sanctioned strength of 42. Defence planners have long said the force needs to add roughly two squadrons' worth of new jets every year to close that gap, which is why the pace of deliveries of the indigenous Tejas Mk-1A is being watched so closely.
What it means for India
Air Force Day is more than a ceremony. It is a public reminder of how central air power has become to India's security – from guarding the northern and western borders to rushing aid during floods, earthquakes and cyclones, and flying Indian citizens home from conflict zones.
For young Indians, it is also a recruitment moment. The parade and the displays are designed to inspire students to consider careers as pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers and technicians, whether through the NDA, the AFCAT route or the Agniveervayu scheme.
The focus on indigenous platforms such as the LCH Prachand and the ALH Dhruv in this year's display also reflects the government's push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing, a theme that has run through IAF events for the past few years.
What happens next
With the anniversary celebrations done, attention will turn to the leadership handover on October 31 and to the priorities the new chief sets for modernisation, squadron strength and joint operations with the Army and Navy. Several Air Force stations around the country also hold their own events and veteran meet-ups through the month, so more celebrations are likely in the coming days.
For now, the message from Hindan was simple: 94 years on, the IAF intends to keep touching the sky with glory.
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