Page 225 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

been set up to utilize more effectively the country’s space-based assets for military purposes and to
look into threats to these assets. This command will leverage space technology including satellites.
Unlike an aerospace command, where the air force controls most of its activities, the Integrated Space
Cell envisages cooperation and coordination between the three services as well as civilian agencies

dealing with space. One such centre is based at Bhopal.

India currently has 11 remote sensing satellites in orbit. Though most are not meant to be dedicated
military satellites, some have a special resolution of 1 meter or below which can be also used for
military applications. Noteworthy satellites include the Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) which
has a panchromatic camera (PAN) with a resolution of meter, the RISAT-2 which is capable of
imaging in all-weather conditions and has a resolution of one meter, the CARTOSAT-2, CARTOSAT-
2A (a dedicated military satellite) and CARTOSAT-2B which carries a panchromatic camera which
has a resolution of 80 centimeters (black and white only).

Display Teams

Surya Kiran (Sanskrit for Sun Rays) is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The
Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and are successors to the Thunderbolts.
The team has a total of 13 pilots (selected from the fighter stream of the IAF) and operate 9 HAL
HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft painted in a “day-glo orange” and white colour scheme. The
Surya Kiran team was conferred squadron status in 2006, and presently has the designation of 52

Squadron, Air Force (‘The Sharks’). Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team is based at the Indian Air Force
Station at Bidar. The HJT-16 Kiran is to be replaced by the HAL HJT-36 Sitara. The IAF have
already given an order for 12 Limited Series Production aircraft for the Surya Kiran team.
Meanwhile, IAF has begun the process of converting Surya Kirans to BAE Hawks. It will take 2-3
years for the team to completely shift to Hawks.

Sarang is the Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force. The name Sarang (Sanskrit for
Peacock) is symbolic as it is the national bird of India. The team was formed in October 2003 and
their first public performance was at the Asian Aerospace Show, Singapore, 2004. The team flies

four HAL Dhruvs painted in red and white with a peacock figure at each side of the fuselage. The
Sarang display team is based at the Indian Air Force base at Air Force Station, Sulur, Coimbatore.

Rank Structure

The rank structure of the Indian Air Force is based on that of the Royal Air Force. The highest rank
attainable in the IAF is Marshal of the Indian Air Force, conferred by the President of India after

exceptional service during wartime. MIAF Arjan Singh is the only officer to have achieved this rank.
The head of the Indian Air Force is the Chief of the Air Staff, who holds the rank of Air Chief
Marshal.

Ranks