No. 45 Squadron IAF

No. 45 Squadron
No.45 squadron patch
Active	1957 - Present.
Country	Republic of India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Role	Air superiority Precision Strike Combat air patrol
Garrison/HQ	Bangalore, Karnataka
Nickname(s)	Flying Daggers
Motto(s)	Ajithalakshya Invincibility Our Mission
Commanders
Current commander	Group Captain Madhav Rangachari
Aircraft flown
Attack	HAL Tejas

No. 45 Squadron Indian Airforce (Flying Daggers) is a Fighter Squadron internally based at Bangalore, Karnataka. The Squadron operate indigenous HAL Tejas fighter from 1 July 2016.

The squadron was raised on 15 February 1957, with de Havilland Vampires, as a Ground-Attack and Close Air Support unit. Later The Vampires were replaced by MiG-21Bison. The MiGs are withdrawn from squadron service in 2002 which were operated from Naliya. It is the first operational squadron of the indigenous fighter jet HAL Tejas From 1 July 2016. The Squadron will operate from Yelahanka Air Base, Bangalore for nearly two years before it moves to its designated locations at Sulur near Coimbatore. It is also the first fighter Squadron to be part of the Southern Air Command of IAF headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram.

On 1 September 1965, during the Indo-Pakistani War, No. 45 Squadron IAF responded to a request for strikes against a counter-attack by the Pakistani Army (Operation Grand Slam), and twelve Vampire Mk 52 fighter-bombers were successful in slowing the Pakistani advance. However, the Vampires encountered two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-86 Sabres, armed with air-to-air missiles; in the ensuing dogfight, the outdated Vampires were outclassed. One was shot down by ground fire and another three were shot down by Sabres. The Vampires were withdrawn from front line service after these losses.

Indian Airforce No.45 Squadron involved in Atlantique incident on 10 August 1999. Two MiG-21Bison from No.45 Squadron IAF intercepted and shot down Pakistani naval reconnaissance plane.