Prashant Kumar Bundela
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Prashant Kumar Bundela
Squadron Leader Prashant Kumar Bundela (14 December 1970 – 19 August 2002) was a fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force who shot down Pakistan Navy Atlantic over the Rann of Kutch soon after the 1999 Kargil War. He received the prestigious Vayusena medal for this operation on 26 January 2000. He died in 2002 in a MiG-21 crash. Early life Bundela was born on 14 December 1970 in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. On 14 December 1991, he was commissioned in the fighter stream and is posted to a Fighter Squadron in the Western Sector. War Operations 10 August 1999, two IAF MiG-21 interceptor aircraft of No. 45 Squadron took off from the Naliya air base at 11 a.m. to investigate an "unidentified" aircraft at India's side of the border. They identified the intruder as a Pakistani Atlantique reconnaissance aircraft. After a series of maneuvers, they got the clearance to shoot down the Pakistani plane. At 11:17 am IST, Bundela fired an infrared homing R-60 air-to-air missile which h ...
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Squadron Leader
Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. An air force squadron leader ranks above flight lieutenant and immediately below wing commander and it is the most junior of the senior officer ranks. The air force rank of squadron leader has a NATO ranking code of OF-3, equivalent to a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Navy or a major in the British Army or the Royal Marines. The equivalent rank in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, Women's Royal Air Force (until 1968) and Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (until 1980) was "squadron officer". Squadron leader has also been used as a cavalry command appointment (UK) and rank (France) since ...
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Interceptor Aircraft
An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are capable of being or are employed as both ‘standard’ air superiority fighters and as interceptors are sometimes known as fighter-interceptors. There are two general classes of interceptor: light fighters, designed for high performance over short range; and heavy fighters, which are intended to operate over longer ranges, in contested airspace and adverse meteorological conditions. While the second type was exemplified historically by specialized night fighter and all-weather interceptor designs, the integration of mid-air refueling, satellite navigation, on-board radar and beyond visual range (BVR) missile systems since the 1960s has allowed most frontline fighter designs to fill the roles once reserved for specialised night/all-weathe ...
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Indian Air Force Officers
Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asian ethnic groups, referring to people of the Indian subcontinent, as well as the greater South Asia region prior to the 1947 partition of India * Anglo-Indians, people with mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in the Indian subcontinent * East Indians, a Christian community in India Europe * British Indians, British people of Indian origin The Americas * Indo-Canadians, Canadian people of Indian origin * Indian Americans, American people of Indian origin * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Americas and their descendants ** Plains Indians, the common name for the Native Americans who lived on the Great Plains of North America ** Native Americans in the U ...
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Kori Creek
The Kori Creek is a tidal creek in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat. It lies just to the west of the Great Rann of Kutch area of India. This region belonging to India is a part of the Indus River Delta, which lies across Gujarat state in India and Sindh in Pakistan. The Sir Creek, laying around 33 km northwest of Kori Creek, is a disputed area between India and Pakistan. Geography On the border of India and Pakistan in Gujarat at the mouth of the Indus River, the Kori Creek is one of the six main creeks on the Indian side. All other five are to the west of it, namely Sir Creek – the westernmost creek, Vian Wari Creek (Vianbari and Viyanbari), Pir Sanai, Pabevari, and Padala 16 km west. All of these creeks are within undisputed territory of India, except for the westernmost creek, namely the Sir Creek, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan. Ever shifting creeks exit Indian territory, enter Pakistan, reenter India and vice versa, thus cre ...
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Air-to-air Missile
The newest and the oldest member of Rafael's Python family of AAM for comparisons, Python-5 (displayed lower-front) and Shafrir-1 (upper-back) An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fueled but sometimes liquid fueled. Ramjet engines, as used on the Meteor, are emerging as propulsion that will enable future medium-range missiles to maintain higher average speed across their engagement envelope. Air-to-air missiles are broadly put in two groups. Those designed to engage opposing aircraft at ranges of less than 16 km are known as short-range or "within visual range" missiles (SRAAMs or WVRAAMs) and are sometimes called "dogfight" missiles because they are designed to optimize their agility rather than range. Most use infrared guidance and are called heat-seeking missiles. In contrast, medium- or long-range missiles (MRAAMs or L ...
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Molniya R-60
The Molniya (now Vympel) R-60 (NATO reporting name: AA-8 "Aphid") is a short-range lightweight infrared homing air-to-air missile designed for use by Soviet fighter aircraft. It has been widely exported, and remains in service with the CIS and many other nations. History The R-60 was initially developed for the MiG-23. Work began on the weapon, under the bureau designation K-60 (''izdeliye'' 62), in the late 1960s. Series production began in 1973. It entered service with the designation R-60 (NATO reporting name "Aphid-A"). When introduced, the R-60 was one of the world's lightest air-to-air missiles, with a launch weight of . It has infrared guidance, with an uncooled ''Komar'' (Mosquito) seeker head. Control is by forward rudders with large rear fins. The distinctive canards on the nose, known as "destabilizers," serve to improve the rudders' efficiency at high angles of attack. The R-60 uses a small, tungsten expanding-rod surrounding a high explosive fragmentation warhe ...
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Infrared Homing
Infrared homing is a passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers" since infrared is radiated strongly by hot bodies. Many objects such as people, vehicle engines and aircraft generate and emit heat and so are especially visible in the infrared wavelengths of light compared to objects in the background. Infrared seekers are passive devices, which, unlike radar, provide no indication that they are tracking a target. That makes them suitable for sneak attacks during visual encounters or over longer ranges when they are used with a forward looking infrared or similar cuing system. Heat-seekers are extremely effective: 90% of all United States air combat losses over the past 25 years have been caused by infrared-homing missiles. They are, however, subject to a number of simple countermeasures, most notably by dropping flares beh ...
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Naliya Air Force Station
Naliya Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is located in Naliya in Gujarat, India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so .... It is not very far from the Pakistan India border. History It is home to No. 101 Squadron IAF in India. It consists of 12 FBSU (Forward Base Supporting units) and MiG-21 Bison. Later it was upgraded to the 49th Wing in 2009. Facilities The airbase is situated at an elevation of 68 ft/21 m above mean sea level. It has one runway with concrete surfaces: 06/24 measuring 9000 by 148 feet (2,743 x 45 m). References {{Indian Air Force Indian Air Force bases ...
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-21; NATO reporting name: Fishbed) is a supersonic jet aircraft, jet fighter aircraft, fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan, Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB, Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Its nicknames include: "balalaika", because its planform (aeronautics), planform resembles the balalaika, stringed musical instrument of the same name; "''Ołówek''", Polish language, Polish for "pencil", due to the shape of its fuselage, and "''Én Bạc''", meaning "silver swallow", in Vietnamese language, Vietnamese. Approximately 60 countries across four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations six decades after its maiden flight. It set aviation records, becoming List of most-produced aircraft, the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War and, previously, the longest production run of any combat air ...
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Fighter Pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting (close range aerial combat). A fighter pilot with at least five air-to-air kills becomes known as an ace. Recruitment Fighter pilots are one of the most highly regarded and desirable positions of any air force. Selection processes only accept the elite out of all the potential candidates. An individual who possesses an exceptional academic record, physical fitness, healthy well-being, and a strong mental drive will have a higher chance of being selected for pilot training. Candidates are also expected to exhibit strong leadership and teamwork abilities. As such, in nearly all air forces, fighter pilots, as are pilots of most other aircraft, are commissioned officers. Fitness Fighter pilots must be in optimal health to ...
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Jhunjhunu
Jhunjhunu is a city and capital of Jhunjhunu district in the state of Rajasthan. This city is in the northern state of Rajasthan, India and the administrative headquarters of Jhunjhunu District. History Jhunjhunu is a very old and historical district, which was founded by Jat chiefs and was later ruled by Chauhans. Mohammed Khan defeated Chauhans and conquered Jhunjhunu. It was taken back by the great Jhunjhar singh nehra and Shardul Singh Ji Shekhawat (descendant of Maharao Shekhaji) in 1730. Demographics In the 2011 India census, the town of Jhunjhunu had a population of 118,473 and a literacy rate of 73.58%. Transport Rail comes within the territory of the North Western Railway. Jhunjhunu city is connected through a broadgauge line to Sikar, Rewari, and Delhi. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off two trains to mark the completion of Rs. 260 crore gauge conversion of the 122 km Loharu-Sikar railway line in Rajasthan. Both trains were flagged off by Prabhu t ...
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Vayusena Medal
The Vayu Sena Medal is a military decoration, usually awarded in peacetime for a job well done in the Indian Air Force. However, it has been granted during times of conflict for acts of gallantry in the face of enemy, though not in the same numbers as the ''Vir Chakra''. Posthumous awards may be made and a bar is authorized for subsequent awards of the ''Vayu Sena Medal''. The VM was established on 17 June 1960 by the President of India and awards have been made from 1961 onwards. Awards over the past decade or more have been classified into two categories. One is ''Vayu Sena'' Medal (Gallantry) and the other for ''Vayu Sena'' Medal (Devotion to Duty). History The Vayu Sena Medal was instituted on 26 January 1960 by the Government of India, with the approval of the President of India. Five other medals were instituted on the same day - the Vishisht Seva Medal series (Class I, Class II, Class III), Sainya Seva Medal, Videsh Seva Medal, Sena Medal and the Nao Sena Medal. Descr ...
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