what was the iaf operating in kargil in 1999 codenamed
Operation Safed Sagar
The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) first tried to provide air support on 26 May , with the use of helicopters and MIGs flown by Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja and his second in command Flt It Nachiketa . Ahuja was killed during the mission , and Nachiketa captured . On 29 May the IAF launched Canberra on a reconnaissance mission , flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni , Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha , which was hit by ground fire . The plane returned to base on one engine , and the crew safely landed . On 30 May , the Cabinet Committee on Security authorized the IAF to mount attacks on the infiltrators without crossing the LoC . Initial indications from the government to the IAF was to operate only Attack helicopters . However , the Chief of Air Staff put forth the argument that in order to create a suitable environment for the helicopters , fighter action was required . On 30 May , the go - ahead was given and the IAF started its strike role . Flying from the Indian airfields of Srinagar , Avantipur and Adampur , ground attack aircraft MiG - 21s , MiG - 23s , MiG - 27s , Jaguars and the Mirage 2000 struck insurgent positions . Of note , although the MiG - 21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack , it is capable of operating in restricted spaces which was of importance in the Kargil terrain .
The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) first tried to provide air support on 26 May , with the use of helicopters and MIGs flown by Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja and his second in command Flt It Nachiketa . Ahuja was killed during the mission , and Nachiketa captured . On 29 May the IAF launched Canberra on a reconnaissance mission , flown by Wg Cdr CH Kulkarni , Sqn Ldr A Perumal and Sqn Ldr UK Jha , which was hit by ground fire . The plane returned to base on one engine , and the crew safely landed . On 30 May , the Cabinet Committee on Security authorized the IAF to mount attacks on the infiltrators without crossing the LoC . Initial indications from the government to the IAF was to operate only Attack helicopters . However , the Chief of Air Staff put forth the argument that in order to create a suitable environment for the helicopters , fighter action was required . On 30 May , the go - ahead was given and the IAF started its strike role . Flying from the Indian airfields of Srinagar , Avantipur and Adampur , ground attack aircraft MiG - 21s , MiG - 23s , MiG - 27s , Jaguars and the Mirage 2000 struck insurgent positions . Of note , although the MiG - 21 is built mainly for air interception with a secondary role of ground attack , it is capable of operating in restricted spaces which was of importance in the Kargil terrain .