Indian Air Force Rafale of No. 17 Squadron Golden Arrows with vapour cone

Golden Arrows at 75: No. 17 Squadron, From MiG-21 to Rafale

by Tamika Johnson | Oct 3, 2026 | Military Aviation, News | 0 comments

Seventy-five years ago, on 1 October 1951, the Indian Air Force formed a new squadron equipped with Harvard trainers. Today No. 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, flies the Rafale out of Ambala, and on 1 October 2026 it celebrated its platinum jubilee there with its jets, its veterans and a special first-day postal cover.

In between lies one of the richest histories in Indian military aviation: Hawker Hunters over Goa and East Pakistan, four decades on the MiG-21, the night bombing missions of Kargil that cost the squadron a flight commander, and the honour of becoming India's first Rafale unit.

Quick Facts

Unit: No. 17 Squadron, Indian Air Force, "Golden Arrows"
Formed: 1 October 1951
Aircraft: Harvard IIB, Vampire, Hawker Hunter, MiG-21, Dassault Rafale
Combat: Goa 1961, 1965 and 1971 wars, Kargil 1999, Operation Sindoor 2025
Current base: Ambala Air Force Station
First Rafales arrived: 29 July 2020
Jubilee: Celebrated at Ambala on 1 October 2026

From Harvards to Hunters

The squadron started on the North American Harvard, moved to the de Havilland Vampire jet in the mid-1950s and then to the Hawker Hunter, which it flew for almost two decades.

Its Hunters went to war in 1961, when six of them attacked the wireless station at Bambolim during the Indian operation to take Goa. In 1971 the squadron flew strikes over East Pakistan, and its commanding officer, Wing Commander Narinder Chatrath, was awarded the Vir Chakra.

The MiG-21 years and Kargil

In 1975 the Golden Arrows converted to the MiG-21 and moved to Bhisiana, near Bathinda in Punjab. They would fly the Soviet delta for more than 40 years.

Their hardest test came in the summer of 1999, during Operation Safed Sagar, the air campaign of the Kargil war. The squadron, then commanded by Wing Commander Birender Singh Dhanoa, flew MiG-21s on low-level night bombing missions in the narrow Himalayan valleys, at altitudes for which the aircraft had never been intended.

“Everything, the speed, altitude, course and timing of bomb release, had to be precise and accurate to hit the target.”

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa (retd) — commanding officer of No. 17 Squadron during Kargil, quoted by The Tribune

On 27 May 1999 the squadron lost its flight commander, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja. His MiG-21 was hit by a shoulder-fired Stinger missile while he stayed over enemy positions to help locate Flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa, whose MiG-27 had suffered an engine flameout. Ahuja ejected but was killed on the ground, and was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra. Dhanoa went on to become Chief of the Air Staff.

Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison taking off with afterburner — An Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison taking off. No. 17 Squadron flew the MiG-21 from 1975 until 2016. Photo: Sanil Nath / CC BY 4.0

Reborn with the Rafale

The squadron was number-plated in 2016 and resurrected at Ambala in September 2019, specifically to receive the Rafale. The first five jets landed there on 29 July 2020 after a ferry flight from France, and were formally inducted that September.

According to Dhanoa, the Golden Arrows were chosen for the honour because they were the most decorated squadron of the Kargil war. The Tribune reports that the unit added two Vir Chakras, four Vayu Sena Medals and ten Mentions in Despatches during Operation Sindoor in 2025.

Seventy-five years on, the Golden Arrows sit at the centre of India's fighter force, and if New Delhi buys 114 more Rafales, they will be the squadron everyone else learns from. The aircraft that made their reputation, the MiG-21, has left Indian service, but it is still flying elsewhere, including from Florida, where civilians can still take one supersonic.

Sources: The Tribune, Indian Air Force, Wikipedia, GKToday, SSBCrack

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Golden Arrows squadron?

The Golden Arrows is the nickname of No. 17 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, formed on 1 October 1951. It has flown the Harvard, Vampire, Hawker Hunter, MiG-21 and, since 2020, the Dassault Rafale, and it is based at Ambala.

When did No. 17 Squadron get the Rafale?

No. 17 Squadron was resurrected at Ambala in September 2019 to become the Indian Air Force's first Rafale unit. The first five Rafales arrived at Ambala on 29 July 2020 and were formally inducted in September 2020.

What did No. 17 Squadron do in the Kargil war?

During Operation Safed Sagar in 1999, No. 17 Squadron flew MiG-21s on low-level night bombing missions in the Himalayan valleys under Wing Commander BS Dhanoa. Its flight commander, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, was killed on 27 May 1999 and posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.

Who was Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja?

Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was the flight commander of No. 17 Squadron during the Kargil war. On 27 May 1999 his MiG-21 was hit by a Stinger missile while he helped search for Flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa, whose MiG-27 had suffered an engine flameout. Ahuja ejected but was killed, and was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.

How long did No. 17 Squadron fly the MiG-21?

No. 17 Squadron converted to the MiG-21 in 1975 and flew it until the squadron was number-plated in 2016, a span of about 41 years.

Can I fly in a MiG-21?

Yes. MiGFlug offers a supersonic MiG-21 flight from Florida, USA, for a limited time. The 40-minute flight includes breaking the sound barrier, typically at around Mach 1.3, aerobatics and time at the controls.