IAF's MiG-21 Bison Squadron To Get New "Falcon Slayer" Patch

The Indian Air Force (IAF) squadron of MiG-1 Bison fighters who took part in the dog fight on February 27 will soon be getting a new "Falcon Slayer" patch commemorating their efforts in downing a Pakistani F-16 on the same.

The MiG-21 Bison Squadron, of which the pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was part of when he took on the intruding aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Jammu and Kashmir on February 27 this year, has taken on the sobriquet ‘Falcon Slayers’ and ‘AMRAAM Dodgers’ and have got special uniform patches made to commemorate the dogfight, according to Indian media.

The 51 Squadron patch depicts a MIG-21 Bison in the foreground and a red-coloured F-16 in the background under crosshairs. The other squadron’s patch shows a SU-30MKI with an AMRAAM missile going past after narrowly missing it.

“Patches instill a sense of pride in not only the present generation of pilots but also future ones. It gives a sense of achievement to the pilot,” Group Captain Anupam Bannerjee said.