No. 23 Squadron IAF
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = No. 23 Squadron
| image = File:IAF No. 23 Squadron.jpg
| image_size = 150px
| caption =
| dates = 1957 - Present
| country = {{flagicon|India}} Republic of India
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| branch = {{air force|India}}
| type =
| role = Fighter
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| garrison = AFS NAL
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| nickname = "Panthers"
| patron =
| motto = Amritham Abhayam
Immortal and Fearless
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| aircraft_fighter = MiG-21 Bison
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No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) is a fighter squadron and is equipped with MiG-21Bison and based at AFS NAL.{{cite web|title=Squadrons and Helicopter Units|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/292-Squadrons.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=3 December 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414024030/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/292-Squadrons.html|url-status=dead}}
History
The squadron was raised in the year 1956 and it became the first squadron in Indian Air Force to be commissioned with Folland Gnat.{{cite tweet|number=1311662647276838914|title=No 23 Sqn 'Panthers' raised in the year 1956, went on to become the first ‘Gnat’ squadron of IAF. The Sqn in 196 5War achieved its first aerial kill & earned the title SabreSlayers.|user=IAF_MCC|date=2020-10-01}}
The squadron was relocated to AFS NAL in June 2024 and will be in use with its sister squadron No. 3 Squadron. The move was done to streamline the maintenance and operability of the last remaining MiG-21. Both the squadron will transition to the newly ordered Tejas Mk1A.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-relocates-mig-21s-to-nal-base-as-it-prepares-to-replace-the-fleet-101719515430591.html|title=IAF relocates MiG-21s to Nal base as it prepares to replace the fleet|work=Hindustan Times|first=Rahul|last=Singh|date=2024-06-28}}
=Assignments=
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1965{{cite web|title=How-Indian-Air-Force-Came-of-Age-in-1965|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/columns/How-Indian-Air-Force-Came-of-Age-in-1965/2015/09/15/article3028077.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120045623/http://www.newindianexpress.com/columns/How-Indian-Air-Force-Came-of-Age-in-1965/2015/09/15/article3028077.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2015|publisher=New Ind Express|access-date=3 December 2015}}
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Aircraft
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! Aircraft !! From !! To !! Air Base | |||
| de Havilland Vampire | November 1956 | January 1960 | |
| Folland Gnat | February 1960 | January 1978 | |
| MiG-21 bis | February 1978 | July 2005 | |
| rowspan='2'|MiG-21 Bison | July 2005 | June 2024 | AFS Suratgarh |
| June 2024 | Present | AFS NAL |