The Central Air Command is one of the five operational commands of the Indian Air Force. Currently headquartered in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, it had its beginning as No 1 Operational Group on 27 May 1958 at Ranikutir in Calcutta as a part of the Govt's increasing emphasis on defence of the eastern borders. Reorganisation of this Operational Group was created this command on 19 March 1962 with headquarters at Rani Kuthee, Calcutta(now Kolkata). Calcutta was considered inappropriate location for the Central Air Command Headquarters and it was relocated at Allahabad in February 1966. Central Air Command controls air operations in all of central India, from Delhi to Bengal. This command was reduced in size with the establishment of the Southern Air Command.
The Command features permanent airbases at Agra, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Gwalior, Nagpur and Kanpur. Central Air Command features air defence squadrons consisting of the Mirage 2000 and the MiG-21. It is the main transport command with aircraft like the IAF's workhorse - the An-32, the long range heavy lift IL-76MD and the Dornier Do-228 which are used in the utility role. CAC also has helicopter squadrons like the Mi-8 Hip & Mi-17 Hip and the heavy lift, Mi-26 Halo
- Indian Air Force
- No. 22 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- Sino-Indian War
- East Pakistan Operations 1971
- Operation Meghdoot
- Orissa Super Cyclone
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