Official Citations Reveal Indian Air Force Heroics During Op Sindoor; Here Are The Details

The President of India approved a series of prestigious gallantry and service awards to Indian Air Force personnel, and other military personnel, for their exceptional acts of courage and distinguished service on August 15, 2025.

Now, the government has released the official citations for these awards.

In the citations, the heroics of IAF personnel during an unnamed operation are described in detail. While the document does not name the operation, it is logical to infer that it speaks of Operation Sindoor executed by armed forces in early May.

Here is what the document says about the exemplary performance of the IAF brave-hearts.

Vir Chakra Awardees

Among the highest honours bestowed, nine IAF personnel received the Vir Chakra for acts of exceptional gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Flying (Pilot), service number 28181, was recognised as Commanding Officer of a squadron equipped with formidable fighter aircraft who led multiple deep-penetration strike missions to destroy designated targets with surgical precision. Despite facing complex threat scenarios and layered air defences, he demonstrated unmatched courage and outstanding tactical acumen, ensuring mission success.

Group Captain Manish Arora, SC, Flying (Pilot), service number 28462, who already holds the Shaurya Chakra, flew as mission leader of an unescorted strike package to neutralize predetermined targets heavily fortified by advanced weapon systems. Operating in airspace with seamless radar cover defended by aircraft equipped with long-range beyond visual range missiles, he fired his weapons on designated targets keeping mission objectives above personal safety. His audacious and aggressive manoeuvring plunged opposing forces into tactical chaos, rendering them incapable of retaliating.

Group Captain Animesh Patni, Flying (Pilot), service number 28689, commanded a strategic Surface to Air Missile (SAM) squadron at a forward airbase, demonstrating exceptional leadership while supervising surveillance over a very large area and controlling two firing units. His unwavering focus and ability to devise innovative solutions to complex problems ensured substantial losses to opposing forces while safeguarding his equipment, even under intense fire.

Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Flying (Pilot), service number 29889, led an unescorted strike package on short notice, encountering aircraft unserviceability in air while under the lethal range of opposing forces. Despite system malfunctions during weapon delivery and being targeted by multiple aerial and ground launches, he executed remedial actions to reset his weapon system and ensured successful destruction of both targets.

Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Flying (Pilot), service number 30398, executed a precision strike on predetermined targets despite a heavily networked Air Defence grid comprising Air Defence aircraft and Surface to Air Guided Weapons equipped with modern long-range missiles. He displayed exceptional courage, enhanced situational awareness and optimal decision making, ensuring successful weapon delivery and guidance till impact on target.

Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Flying (Pilot), service number 32748, played a pivotal role as part of the mission planning cell in the conceptualization, coordination and execution of multiple deep strike missions. He successfully executed deep strike missions on consecutive days, with one resulting in the destruction of critical airfield infrastructure, thereby degrading operational capabilities.

Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh, Flying (Pilot), service number 33900, led a three-aircraft formation tasked for Stand-Off precision strike on a predesignated target requiring precise engagement of a particular structure. Despite a heavily networked and integrated Air Defence environment, he displayed exceptional courage and enhanced situational awareness, ensuring successful weapon delivery.

Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, Flying (Pilot), service number 34563, flew as deputy mission leader at midnight of an unescorted strike package to neutralize predesignated targets fortified by the latest air defence weapon systems. Despite overwhelming adversary presence and being under lethal ranges with multiple aerial and ground launches, he successfully destroyed targets while displaying dynamic decision making.

Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur, Flying (Pilot), service number 36433, flew as part of an unescorted strike package at midnight, leading his formation by routing at low levels while avoiding adverse weather and displaying exceptional situational awareness.

Distinguished Service Awards

Apart from the above, four Air Marshals received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for distinguished service of the most exceptional order during war/conflict/hostilities: Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor; Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra; and Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti.

Five senior Air Force officers received the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for distinguished service of exceptional order: Air Marshal Manish Khanna; Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra; Air Commodore Ajay Kumar Chaudhary; Air Commodore Prabhat Malik; and Group Captain Kamran Nazeer.

Group Captain Omar Browne received the Bar to Vayu Sena Medal/Air Force Medal for acts of exceptional courage.

The Vayu Sena Medal was awarded to numerous personnel including Group Captains Ankur Hakim, Manav Bhatia, Yasir Faruqi, Varun Bhoj, Anuraj Singh Minhas, Deepak Chauhan, and Kunal Vishwas Shimpi. Wing Commanders Rupak Roy, Devendra Babasaheb Autade, Mayank Paliwal, Deepak Dogra, Ravinder Kumar, Adarsh Gupta, Abhay Singh Bhadoria, and Amandeep Singh Dihot also received this honour.

Squadron Leaders including Kaustubh Nalawade, Mihir Vivek Chaudhari, Rakesh Sharma, and others were recognized for exceptional courage. .