Wings of Support

Actions by the transport fleet of IAF have been documented and available at various publications; however, 'Wings of Support' is probably the first consolidated book on transport operations of IAF. The book narrates the stories of Indian aviators at the Great War of 1914.  Book covers creation of IAF, training of the first six pilots at Cranwell, IAF Act of October 08, 1932, first Sqn with Indians and their action during WW-II.

Importance of Transport Operations and Evolution of the IAF Transport Fleet since 1946 till the induction of C-295MW comes in the next section, which also touches upon Transport inductions and Sqns raised, giving the 'capability journey of IAF's Transport fleet' where the airlift capability has risen from 30 tons in 1947 to 3000 tons in 2025.

An attempt to capture major operations undertaken by the fleet since October 27, 1947, when Dakotas created an aerial bridge between Srinagar and Delhi/Jammu to help save Kashmir.  Action has been split into two separate chapters, one covering real operations and the other covering the effort towards disaster relief and nation-building. One chapter has been dedicated to daredevil acts of some of the heroes and the legends who made the impossible possible.  

IAF, HAL, NAL, DPSUs, and Private Industry have played a significant role in shaping the indigenous capability in Transport manufacturing and their modifications, thus one chapter gives out the details of the aeroplanes built for IAF.  

The last chapter syncs the transport fleet of 2047 with the National vision of Vikist Bharat by scientifically applying management tools to predict Transport Force Structure for a Viksit Bharat, when India will have a significant role in the Global Geo-Politics.

Attributes of speed, reach, flexibility, versatility, concentration of force, and responsiveness to the fighting forces are provided by the IAF's Air Transport fleet.  Carriage of military equipment between theatres for routine deployments, reinforcement, and evacuation of stranded personnel and diaspora from troubled spots around the globe is a demonstrated role of the IAF.    

'Wings of Support', by Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva, is a fitting tribute to that journey: a chronicle of evolution from piston‑engined pioneers to jet‑powered giants and above all, to the indomitable spirit of the men and women who flew and maintained them.  For anyone who wishes to understand the breadth of the IAF's contribution to national security and humanitarian service, this volume is indispensable.

Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi, PVSM, AVSM, VM

The IAF's transport fleet has been a critical enabler of the Army's success since independence, providing speed, reach, and flexibility to achieve operational objectives across diverse terrains.

Over the decades, transport platforms have expanded capability, allowing rapid deployment of soldiers, heavy equipment, artillery, and armour to remote and high-altitude regions like Ladakh, Siachen, and the Northeast.  By combining strategic lift capacity with tactical versatility, the IAF's transport fleet has consistently acted as a force multiplier, ensuring the Army to project power.

Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva has so aptly brought out all the successful missions conducted jointly in his book “Wings of Support”.  The reader will not only enjoy reading about the operations but also get to know so many incidents that have been lost in the dusty files of history.

General Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM

Air transport operations are the unseen backbone of India's national power - linking remote frontiers, sustaining military readiness, enabling humanitarian relief, and driving economic transformation.  Air Mshl Rajeev Sachdeva has penned down a vivid and authoritative journey through the evolution, challenges and triumphs of air mobility across the subcontinent.  From the pioneering days of Dakota flights over the Himalayas to today's strategic airlift missions, it traces how the Indian Air Force has developed a formidable airlift capability that not only has a significant place in its doctrine, but is also seen by the nation as life-supporting.

Insightful, engaging, and meticulously researched, “Wings of Support” is an essential read for aviation professionals, historians, defence analysts, policymakers, and anyone fascinated by aircraft and the future of air transport operations in India's Viksit Bharat of 2047.

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Raman Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM