r/IndianAirForce

The Battle of Longewala saw Pakistan launch a massive nighttime blitz into the Indian desert with over 3,000 troops, 40+ Chinese-made Type 59 tanks, and hundreds of armored vehicles. Facing them were only 120 Indian soldiers with 2 RCL jeeps and 10 camels. Surprised by the night attack, the Indian troops were given the option to withdraw, but they refused and chose to fight. They held the post through the night with heavy resistance, waiting for the Indian Air Force, which lacked night-strike capability at the time. At dawn, Hawker Hunter jets unleashed devastating attacks on the Pakistani armored column, destroying or forcing the abandonment of over 36 out of 40 tanks, hundreds of vehicles, and killing around 300 Pakistani soldiers. India lost only 2 soldiers, 1 RCL Jeep and 5 camels in the battle.

India has officially approved the purchase of six additional P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian Navy, expanding its fleet from 12 to 18 planes. The deal, valued between 3.5billionand3.5billionand4 billion, received the Acceptance of Necessity in February 2026 and is now moving toward final cabinet approval. Despite significant cost increases from earlier estimates due to post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, the government decided to proceed based on "operational necessity," citing the P-8I's unmatched multi-role capabilities in anti-submarine warfare and surveillance.

Edit : After reading the comments, it seems like I made the post a little vague. I have been aspiring to join the armed forces (ARMY) since my school times. I applied to Sainik school and RIMC during school times, where I was rejected in interview in Sainik School Ghorakhal and medical out from RIMC. I have appeared fro SSBs 3 times and been recommended in all 3: 2x NDA and 1x AFCAT.

After getting medically rejected in NDA(army) I took an alternate route and after my graduation, stared a job because the medical was a Permanent Rejection for army. After 2 years of corporate, one of my friends was exploring career paths, and was not very confident when I asked him to appear for CDS and AFCAT. To boost his morale, I said I will also appear for the exams with him, although I have already been medically rejected.

Comes to today, the friend cleared AFCAT and CDS exams, could not make it through SSBs. I could not appear for the CDS exam as I was out of station, but cleared everything in AFCAT including the medicals. I was looking forward to joining the flying branch, but missed the DOB by 1 day, so AE(L) is my 1st priority now.

While waiting for the merit, I appeared for a few interviews in a few companies where I got some offers, which include the above offer from a reputed company, and now I am in a dilemma because:

IAF:

Wanted to fulfil my childhood dream, could not make it to army but maybe will get the same kick if I join the IAF. I always fascinated by SF, but timelines of GARUD are not feasible for me because of expected marriage timelines, so will opt out of Garud.

Want to change the trajectory of my family by joining the IAF, with the discipline and the lifestyle it provides, that gets translated to the entire family tree.

This will be the last attempt to join the Armed forces, can come back to corporate any time in future

Corporate:

Will be available for the family because my younger sibiling was also selected as an IAS and will not be readily available fro the family, and my mother does need constant attention due to her medical condition. I have a WFH job, and am always available as of now.

Will be able to settle my education loans and medical loans much sooner as compared to IAF.

I have multiple friends who are officers in the army, and almost ALL OF THEM have suggested me to continue in corporate as the army is all sunshine from the outside, but a few years in and I might see the mudpile. Coporate will help me retire sooner by building that safety net sooner, but I would miss on the prestige that I talked about.

Since I have literally 0 connections in the Air Force, I have had no perspective from anyone in the IAF. If anyone has relatives/friends or themselves in the IAF, what are their views ?

https://www.etnownews.com/news/operation-sindoor-the-night-indian-air-force-unleashed-hell-on-pakistan-article-154145379

Please read my article, share opinions. Jay Hind🇮🇳

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a retaliation from India was expected, and it arrived with precision. Operation Sindoor began by striking only terrorist camps inside Pakistan, but the western adversary began targeting civilian areas and air bases from Kashmir to Kutch. Missiles and swarm drones were intercepted in what looked like a flawless show of technology. The patience of the Indian forces was tested to its peak, and the time had come to move from defensive to offensive. "Nabhaḥ Sparsh Dīptam" is the motto of the Indian Air Force, which means "Touch the Sky with Glory."

Fighter jets including the Su-30MKI, Rafale, and Jaguar were locked and loaded with missiles. Their sole intention was to dismantle and blind the Pakistani forces. The goal was to tear holes in their hangars so deep that it would take a year to even attempt repairs, only to eventually fail and require total replacement. The mission was to create craters larger than the grief of those who lost their loved ones and to destroy their aircraft whether they were in the air or still in their hangars. By destroying their air radars, India created blind spots so deep that once the enemy opened their eyes, the only things left to see were ashes, burning jets, and destroyed air bases, a damage that will haunt them forever.

Source : images- Damien Symon

Jindal Defence Taurus offering exclusive discounts on civilian handguns for serving and retired personnel from the Armed Forces, CAPF, and State Police. The offer covers all three civilian models:
✅ PT 57 SC (.32 ACP)
✅ PT 58 HC Plus (.380 ACP)
✅ RT073 (.32 S&W Long)

Behind every uniform is a level of sacrifice most people never fully see. It’s good to see initiatives like this that recognize and respect that commitment.