No. 52 Squadron is an aerobatic squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was established in 1996 and is based at Bidar Air Force Station. The squadron zwas formed in 2006. It is popularly known as the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team. SKAT performs across the country as well as in China, the UK, Germany, Laos and Sri Lanka. The Surya Kirans were among the top three nine-aircraft aerobatics teams in the world, along with the British Red Arrows and the Canadian Snowbirds. Also known as The Sharks, No 52 Squadron was initially established on 1 January 1986, and is the youngest of IAF's fighter squadrons. The Sharks flew the MiG-21 FL and were used in MiG Operational Fighter Training. They were briefly used in OAS role in 1996, before being 'number-plated', in June 2005. The Squadron motto is "Sadaiv Sarvottam", which translates as "Always the Best". For its consistent performance since 1996, the Suryakiran was awarded Chief of the Air Staff's Unit Citation on 8 October 2004. It is the first unit in the IAF to receive this award.
History
52 Squadron IAF was organized on 1 January 1986 at 16 Wing, Hashimara and equipped with T-77 aircraft. Its primary role was air defence, while its secondary role was ground attack. However, during peacetime the Squadron was given the additional responsibility of conducting MOFT syllabus of young pilots. The Squadron moved to Bagdogra on January 1990. On 1 November 1996 the Squadron moved to 14 Wing at Chabua. Formation aerobatics has been a part of IAF aviation history since it was established. The Surya Kiran squadron was conceived in 1996 to serve as Ambassadors who would showcase the prowess of the Air Force's fighter pilots in precision aerobatic flying. The SKAT was a successor of the earlier display team, the 'Thunderbolts', who performed in the early 1980s. Citing shortage of aircraft for training purposes, The IAF retired the Kirans soon after the 2011 Aero India display and announced that the Indian aerobatics team would regroup on the BAE Systems’ Hawk trainer aircraft.
