Capturing the enemy airfield (Red Forces), simulated at about 60 km from the border and considered strategically important for friendly forces, the 'Garuds' overcame the medium threat environment and adequate defensive measures, neutralised the enemy radar site and captured the airfield within the stipulated two hours based on intelligence, which identified the location of the airfield in a desert terrain.
Elaborating, Defence sources said 'Garud' mission commander Flight Lieutenant Jagvinder Singh, after acquiring all the necessary
IAF's Garud Flight, established in 2005 with 60 commandos, was formed after the Kargil conflict and terrorist attacks on IAF airfields in insurgency-affected areas.
Garuds commandoes are trained to protect airfields from enemy and terrorist attacks, carry out hostage rescue operations and 'radar busting' besides carrying out combat search and rescue missions for securing back pilots from hostile territory.
Image: A memeber of the elite IAF Garuds team takes on an All Terrain Vehicle.
Text: UNI | Photograph: PTI Photo