New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will operationalise its Coimbatore-based No.18 Squadron by equipping it with the fourth generation indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 

A PIB (Defence Wing) release stated that the IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, will operationalise the squadron "Flying Bullets" at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore later in the day.

"The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC (final operation clearance) aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas," after the 45 Squadron based at Coimbatore, it said.

The No.18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto "Teevra aur Nirbhaya" meaning "Swift and Fearless," was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft.

The Squadron "actively participated" in the Indo-Pak War in 1971 war and got honoured and decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (posthumously).

"It earned the sobriquet Defenders of Kashmir Valley by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar," it said.

"The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur," the release added.