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Nine IAF officers received the Vir Chakra for targeting terror headquarters in Muridke and Bahawalpur during Op Sindoor. The IAF downed six Pakistani jets in the May conflict.
Pakistan’s air power suffered major losses as IAF pilots downed multiple enemy aircraft during Operation Sindoor. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)
Nine Indian Air Force (IAF) officers, including pilots who targeted terror headquarters in Muridke and Bahawalpur, as well as key Pakistani military assets during Operation Sindoor, have been awarded the Vir Chakra, news agency ANI reported Thursday.
The IAF also successfully downed at least six Pakistani aircraft during the May counter-terror operation to avenge the massacre of civilians in Pahalgam in April.
The Vir Chakra is the third highest wartime gallantry medal.
Nine Indian Air Force officers, including fighter pilots who targeted terrorist groups’ headquarters in Muridke and Bahawalpur and Pakistan military assets in the Operation Sindoor awarded the Vir Chakra – the third highest wartime gallantry medal. https://t.co/yz3y4OTJs9 pic.twitter.com/IXLoguOUTe— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025
The officers awarded, according to ANI, are: Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora (Shaurya Chakra), Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur.
The news agency also reported that 26 officers and airmen of the IAF have been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry). This includes fighter pilots who took part in missions targeting locations inside Pakistan and personnel operating the S-400 and other air defence systems, which successfully foiled all Pakistani attempts to strike Indian soil.
In a series of posts on X, ANI reported that two senior Indian Army officers have been awarded the Sarvottam Yudha Seva Medal on Independence Day. The list of gallantry awardees also includes four Kirti Chakras, four Vir Chakras and eight Shaurya Chakras.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
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