No. 77 Squadron IAF

No. 77 Squadron is a unit of the Indian Air Force assigned to Western Air Command. This tactical airlift aircraft will be able to undertake quick deployment of Special Forces in all weather conditions, including airdrops and landings on unprepared or semi-prepared surface even in complete darkness. Capable of undertaking low-level air-to-air refueling to enhance its range, rapid forward basing of personnel and equipment in emergent situations would be one of its multifaceted roles.

No. 77 Squadron
Active	05 February 2011 - Present
Country	India
Role	Special Air Operations
Garrison/HQ	Hindon AFS
Nickname(s)	"Veiled Vipers"
Motto(s)	Kill with Stealth
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-130J Super Hercules

C-130Js from 'Veiled Vipers' on the Air Force Day Parade, at Hindon Air Force Station on 8 October 2018

History

The First C-130J aircraft was received in February 2011^[1]

On 20 August 2013, the Indian Air Force performed the highest landing of a C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip in Ladakh at the height of 16,614 ft (5,064 m).^[2][3]

One crashed in 2014, which was replaced in 2019.^[4][5]

Lineage

• Constituted as No. 77 Squadron (Veiled Vipers) on 5 February 2011^[6]

Aircraft

• C-130J Super Hercules