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No. 125 Helicopter Squadron IAF

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No. 125 Helicopter Squadron
Active1 November 1983- Present
CountryIndia Republic of India
Branch Indian Air Force
TypeAttack Helicopter
RoleClose Air Support
Size1 Squadron
Part ofWestern Air Command
Garrison/HQPathankot Air Force Station
Nickname(s)"Gladiators"
Motto(s)Balidaan Veerasya Bhushanam
Sacrifice is jewel of Brave
Aircraft flown
AttackApache AH-64E
An Apache helicopter on the day of induction into the squadron.

No. 125 Helicopter Squadron (Gladiators) is a helicopter squadron and is equipped with Apache AH-64E and based at Pathankot Air Force Station.[1] It is one of the two helicopter squadrons operating the AH-64E in India. The other being No.137 Helicopter Squadron IAF.

History

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The first Attack Helicopter Squadron of IAF was raised as 125 Helicopter Squadron on 1 November 1983 and equipped with Mi-25 helicopter Gunships. The squadron was reequipped with Mi-35 in April 1990.[2] On 3 September 2019, the squadron formally inducted the first batch of AH-64E Apache helicopters into the Indian Air Force.

Assignments

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Aircraft

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Aircraft From To Air Base
Mil Mi-25 U 1 November 1983 May 1990 Pathankot AFS[3]
Mil Mi-35 June 1990 August 2019
Boeing Apache AH-64E 3 September 2019 Present[4]

Incidents

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On 3 April 2024 , an AH-64 E Apache helicopter operated by the squadron made an emergency landing in Ladakh due to fauty maneuvering. The landing was made between Leh and Thoise, near Khardung La pass (highest motorable road in India) during an operational sortie in Ladakh. The helicopter sustained some damages due to the rugged terrain of Ladakh. Both pilots were safely evacuated immediately after the landing.

The retrieval operation lasted several months due to the high altitude and undulating terrain of the region. A special crane was used to put the airframe on to a truck which transported it back to Pathankot air base. About 400 parts had to be disassembled for the transportation. [5]

References

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  1. ^ "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Our Strength". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  3. ^ "No.125 Helicopter Squadron Gladiators". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  4. ^ "IAF gets new firepower, inducts eight Apache attack helicopters". Indian Express. 4 September 2019.
  5. ^ Sentinels, India. "IAF Apache helicopter, which made emergency landing near Ladakh's Khardung-la, successfully retrieved". www.indiasentinels.com. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
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