The Indian Air Force turns 94 on October 8, and the day will be marked with a parade and an air display at Air Force Station Hindon in Uttar Pradesh. This year’s theme is “Indian Air Force – Infallible, Impervious and Precise.”
Air Force Day commemorates the date the force was officially established in 1932. The IAF was founded on October 8, 1932 under the Indian Air Force Act 1932, as an auxiliary air force of the Royal Air Force in British India.
The first combat unit was modest. It consisted of four fabric-covered biplanes and a handful of young pilots on an airfield outside Karachi. The force took part in operations during the Second World War, and the “Royal” prefix was added in 1945. It was dropped when India became a republic in 1950.
Today the IAF flies Rafales, Su-30MKIs and Tejas fighters and is one of the largest air forces in the world. In last year’s address, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh described its rise from a humble beginning to the fourth-largest air force in the world.
The day is also an occasion to recognise the sacrifices and achievements of generations of air warriors. The force’s motto, “Touch the Sky with Glory,” is drawn from the Bhagavad Gita.
The 94th anniversary carries the theme “Indian Air Force – Infallible, Impervious and Precise.” It is often rendered in Hindi as “Achook, Abhedya, Sateek,” and signals an emphasis on precision and resilience.
How the day is marked
The celebrations begin with the Air Force Day Parade at Hindon, followed by a flypast and aerial display. The dress rehearsal for the air show was held on October 6.
The anniversary falls during Tarang Shakti 2026, an international air exercise running from September 26 to October 12, which allows the IAF and foreign air forces to improve coordination and share best practices.
In the run-up, the IAF held outreach events, including a high tea for veterans from Mumbai, Thane and Raigad on September 27 under the message “Once an Air Warrior, Always an Air Warrior.”
A last Air Force Day for the chief
This is the final Air Force Day for Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on October 31. At his annual press conference on October 3, his last as chief, he said India needs to induct 36 to 40 new fighters every year to arrest the decline in numbers. The IAF has 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, and the briefing covered delayed Tejas deliveries, a 114-fighter deal still under negotiation, and the indigenous stealth fighter programme.
