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IAF commandos display skills in U.S.

Special Correspondent

The Garuds successfully capture air field, carry out combat search and rescue operations

— Photo: PTI

IAF guards get ready for a para-jump as a part of the ongoing exercise ‘Red Flag’ at the Air Force base Nellis, in Nevada desert of the United States on Monday.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force’s special force commandos, ‘The Garuds,’ successfully demonstrated their mission capability during Exercise Red Flag — a multi-nation war game in the U.S. — by neutralising a mock enemy radar site, capturing an air field and carrying out combat search and rescue operations.

The ‘enemy’ airfield in the Nevada desert was considered strategically important for the friendly forces. The intelligence report made available identified the location of the airfield in the desert terrain suggesting medium threat environment and adequate defensive measures. The Garuds were assigned the task of neutralising the enemy radar site and capturing the airfield in two hours, according to a press release by IAF spokesperson Wg. Cmdr. Mahesh Upasani.

Use of ATVs

After acquiring intelligence inputs, including those from satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles , the Garud Force mission commander, Flt. Lt. Jagvinder Singh, carried out a detailed analysis of the terrain and topography and worked out an operational plan. The plan included heliborne insertion and exfilteration of the force. The Garud ,during this exercise mission, used assault rifles as primary weapons, pistols and combat knives as secondary weapons, LMGs, Navigation and communication equipment and All Terrain Vehicles .

The IAF, then headed by Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, had formed its first Garud unit in 2005 with 60 commandos. It has been progressively growing since then. The need for forming such a force was felt after the Kargil operations and terrorist attacks on IAF airfields in insurgency affected areas. The Garuds are trained to protect airfields from enemy and terrorist attacks, carry out hostage rescue operations, ‘radar busting’ etc. They also carry out the combat search and rescue missions for securing back pilots from hostile territory.

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