View source for Ambala Air Force Station

{{Short description|Air base at Ambala, Haryana, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Ambala Air Force Station
| ensign = Air Force Ensign of India.svg
| ensign_size = 100px
| native_name = 
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = [[Ambala]], [[Haryana]]
| country = India
| image = <!--[[File:|250px]]-->
| caption = 
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = [[Air base|Military airbase]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|30|22|15|N|76|49|04|E|display=inline,title}}
| gridref = 
| pushpin_map = India Haryana#India
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Haryana
| pushpin_label = Ambala AFS
| pushpin_label_position = 
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]
| operator = [[Indian Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[Western Air Command]]
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities   radar types etc -->  
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| built = {{Start date|1919}}
| used = 1919 - present
| builder = [[British Raj]]
| fate = 
| condition = 
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = 
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = 7 Wing
| occupants = [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] <br />[[No. 17 Squadron IAF]]
| designations = 
| website = 
| footnotes = 
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = AMI
| ICAO = VIAM<ref name=cd1>[http://www.world-airport-codes.com/india/hissar-2947.html World Airport Codes.]</ref>
| LID = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 
| elevation = {{Convert|275.2|m|0}}
| r1-number = 12/30
| r1-length = {{Convert|2811|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]] /  [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number = 
| r2-length = {{Convert|1770|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Concrete / Asphalt
| r3-number = 
| r3-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r3-surface = 
| h1-number = 
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface = 
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
}}
[[File:1925 Air Routes of British India.jpg|thumb|347x347px|Air routes of British India in 1925, with single fight between Ambala and [[Risalpur]] (now in [[Nowshera District]] of [[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]]) on 14 January 2025.]]

The '''Ambala Air Force Station''' {{airport codes|AMI|VIAM}} is an Indian Air Force base situated north of the urban [[Ambala Cantt]] area in [[Haryana]], [[India]]. The Ambala Air Force Station is the home to the first batch of advance multirole fighter jet [[Dassault Rafale]]s that have been inducted to [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Five Rafale jets leave for India: What happens next | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/five-rafale-jets-leave-for-india-what-happens-next-6525806/lite/#aoh=15958763840894&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also | List_of_airports_in_India#Haryana | label 1 =  Airports in Haryana | History_of_Haryana#Aviation | label 2 = Aviation history of Haryana | History of the Indian Air Force | label 3 = Indian Air Force history | Civil_aviation_in_India#History | label 4 = Civil Aviation History of India | Aviation_History | label 5 =  World Aviation History | Aviation_in_India | label 6 = Aviation in India | Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation }}

In 1919 immediately after the [[First World War]] (1914-18), first airstrip was built in Haryana when RAF Ambala was created and a [[Flying Instructors School (India)|Flying Instruction School]] (FIS) was formed here.

On 1 April 1920, [[No. 28 Squadron RAF]] which was earlier disbanded in Britain in January 1920,{{sfn|Halley|1988|p=72}}{{sfn|Rawlings|1969|pp=77, 79}} was reformed at [[Ambala Air Force Station|RAF Ambala]] by renumbering [[No. 114 Squadron RAF|114 Squadron]], an army cooperation squadron equipped with the [[Bristol F2b Fighter]].{{sfn|Rawlings|1982|p=45}}{{sfn|Halley|1988|pp=72–73, 190–191}} It may have also retained some [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2]]s, although if operated, they were soon phased out.{{sfn|Rawlings|1982|p=45}} The squadron operated over the [[North-West Frontier Province|North-West Frontier]], moving to [[PAF Base Kohat|Kohat]] in December 1921.{{sfn|Rawlings|1982|pp=45–46}} 

On 1st April 1938 just before the [[Second World War]] (1939-45), Ambala was approved as the permanent Station Headquarters when some staff from the [[PAF Base Faisal|Drigh Road Karachi Airfield]] was moved to Ambala, including the [[Pilot Officer]]s Goyal, Arjan Singh and Prithipal Singh, and in June 1938 two squadrons were moved here,  [[No. 1 Squadron IAF]] (The Tigers) - the oldest squadron of the Indian Air Force and [[No. 28 Squadron RAF]].<ref name=indiaf1>[https://iafhistory.in/2022/02/03/ambala-independent-indias-first-iaf-station-hq/ Ambala-Independent India's first IAF station], iafhistory.in, accessed 3 Jul 2025.</ref> Royal Air Force units based at Ambala during [[British India]] era included: 
* [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]] between 1 April and 30 September 1921 without any aircraft{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=27}}
* [[No. 5 Squadron RAF]] between 26 October 1922 and 10 March 1924 with the [[Bristol F.2 Fighter|Bristol F.2B Fighter]]{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=28}}
* [[No. 20 Squadron RAF]] between 17 October 1921 and 24 October 1922 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=34}}
* [[No. 28 Squadron RAF]] between 1 April 1920 and 15 October 1921 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=37}}
* [[No. 31 Squadron RAF]] between 13 March 1924 and 15 December 1926 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=}}
* [[No. 60 Squadron RAF]] between 3 March 1939 and 19 September 1940 with the [[Bristol Blenheim]] I{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=47}}
* [[No. 99 Squadron RAF]] between 15 June and 26 September 1919 with the [[Airco DH.9]]A{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=56}}
* [[No. 114 Squadron RAF]] between 2 October 1919 and 1 April 1920 with the Bristol F.2B{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=59}}
* [[No. 1 (Indian) Service Flying Training School RAF]], disbanded 1 April 1946 here.
* [[No. 659 Squadron AAC|No. 659 Squadron RAF]] between January 1946 and May 1947 with the [[Taylorcraft Auster]] V.{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=104}}

On 1 April 1946 1 SFTS, 151 OTU and 1 (Advanced) Flying Unit merged to become the Advanced Flying School (India) at Ambala.

After [[Independence Day (India)|India's independence in August 1947]], Ambala became independent India's first IAF station.<ref name=indiaf1/> In 1947, FIS Ambala was moved to [[Tambaram]] near [[Chennai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], at [[Tambaram Air Force Station]].

In both the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971]] wars, Ambala Air Force Base was attacked by the Pakistani Air Force. In 1965, the Pakistanis struck Ambala and reportedly destroyed some 25 Indian planes just after they had returned from missions (the PAF did not initially claim any IAF aircraft during the attack on Ambala due to non-availability of damage in night bombing).<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambala Airbase|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ambala.htm|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>
Indian Air Force rejected the Pakistani claim and stated that no aircraft were lost in Ambala during the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Accidents/listing.php?qyear=1965&qacid=&qt=YR |title=Indian Air Force Accidents and Incidents |publisher=Bharat-rakshak.com |date= |access-date=2022-03-19}}</ref>

On February 26, 2019, for India's [[2019 Balakot airstrike]] in Pakistan, Mirage fighters took off from the Ambala air base, and the whole operation took 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/indian-air-force-loc-kashmir-live-updates|title='Wait For Our Response,' Says Pak Army After India's Air Strikes|website=The Quint|date=26 February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]] in 2020-21, the Russian [[Ministry of Emergency Situations (Russia)|Ministry of Emergency Situations]] flew relief supplies from Russia to Ambala.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

==Assets==
[[File:IAF Rafale aircraft touching down at Air Force Station Ambala on its arrival on 29 July 2020 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Dassault Rafale landing at the Ambala Air Force Station on 29 July 2020.]]

In 2018–19, Ambala Airforce station housed a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] of [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]  of [[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] and [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]], and aging [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21bis]] of [[No. 21 Squadron IAF]] (Ankush). In May 2020, the base became the house of the [[No. 17 Squadron IAF|first squadron]] of [[Dassault Rafale]] fighter jets. The [[No. 101 Squadron IAF|second squadron]] is based at [[Hasimara Air Force Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/surgical-strike-2-0-all-we-know-so-far-about-indias-air-strike-on-pakistan-2048905.html|title=News18 Newsletter {{!}} All We Know So Far About India's Surgical Strike 2.0 on Pakistan|website=News18|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>

A dedicated flight training facility and an [[Aircraft maintenance|MRO facility]] for the Rafale fleet operates out of the airbase.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-16 |title=Indian weapons must on all 114 Rafale jets, govt tells Dassault |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/top-headlines/indian-weapons-must-on-all-114-rafale-jets-govt-tells-dassault/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

==Ambala Domestic Airport==
{{anchor | Civil | Enclave | Civil Enclave | Civil enclave | Domestic }}
 
The foundation stone for the [[civil enclave]] at Ambala was laid in October 2023, on a 20-acre site next to the airforce base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/airport-ambala-here-you-need-know-8984875/|title=Now an airport in Ambala: Here's what you need to know|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en| date=16 October 2023 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> Land for the civil enclave had been acquired from the ministry of defense for Rupees 133 crores, and another Rupees 40 crores were allocated for infrastructure, while Rupees 16 crore was set aside for construction of the terminal building. Security for the airport will be provided by the Haryana Police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/haryana-police-to-be-deployed-at-ambala-airport-operational-by-february-vij-101736614026077.html|title=Haryana Police to be deployed at Ambala airport, operational by February: Vij|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en| date=11 January 2025 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/new-ambala-airport-to-be-operational-by-feb-says-vij/articleshow/117156910.cms|title=New Ambala airport to be operational by Feb, says Vij |website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en| date=11 January 2025 | access-date=14 January 2025}}</ref> The project was initially approved in December 2018 under the Central Government's [[UDAN]] 3.0 scheme but faced delays due to land acquisition issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/equipment-delays-push-back-ambala-civil-enclave-operations/|title=Equipment delays push back Ambala Civil Enclave operations|website=[[The Tribune (India)]]|language=en| date=12 January 2025 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref>

Inauguration of the civil enclave is expected to be around 15th August 2025, in the presence of Union Defence Minister [[Rajnath Singh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/rajnath-okays-opening-of-ambala-cantt-airport/|title=Rajnath 'okays' opening of Ambala Cantt Airport|website=[[The Tribune (India)]]|language=en| date=2 August 2025 | accessdate=2 August 2025}}</ref> Initial flights are expected to be operated to cities like [[Jammu]], [[Srinagar]], [[Lucknow]], and [[Ayodhya]].<ref name=planamb11>[https://en.theharyanastory.com/article/1765/good-news-for-haryana-flights-to-four-cities-from-ambala-airport-coming-soon Good News for Haryana: Flights to Four Cities from Ambala Airport Coming Soon], theharyanastory.com, 24 Mar 2025.</ref>

The IATA code AMI has now been officially assigned to Ambala Airport, formally placing Ambala on the global aviation map.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airline and Airport Code Search |url=https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=www.iata.org |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation|India}}
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}

* [[List of airports in India#Haryana|List of airports in India by state]]
** [[Airports Authority of India]]
** [[List of busiest airports in India]]
** [[List of Indian Air Force bases]]
* Military
** [[Sirsa Air Force Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[Gurugram Air Force Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[Raja Nahar Singh Faridabad Air Force Logistics Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[Hisar Military Station]], a nearby station in Haryana state
** [[List of Indian Air Force stations]]
** [[List of Armed Forces Hospitals In India]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1=C.&nbsp;G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |publisher= Airlife Publishing |location= [[Shrewsbury]], UK |isbn= 1-84037-141-2 }}
* {{cite book |last=Halley |first=James J. |title=The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988 |year=1988 |location =Tonbridge, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. |isbn=0-85130-164-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first=J. D. R. |title=Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. and their Aircraft |year=1969 |location=London |publisher=Macdonald & Co., (Publishers) Ltd. }}
* {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first=John D. R. |title=Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft |year=1982 |location=London |publisher=Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. |isbn=0-7106-0187-5}}

{{stack|}}

{{Airports in India}}
{{Indian Air Force}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ambala]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Airports in Haryana]]
[[Category:World War II sites in India]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1919]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Airports Authority of India]]