Thanjavur, India. 19  March 2024. Southern Air Command (SAC) was established in Jul 84 in response to certain geopolitical developments to ensure effective command and control of IAF assets and facilitate quick deployment of combat forces in the event of threats developing in the Indian Ocean Region.

In a recent redeployment of IAF assets, one Helicopter Unit was inducted at Air Force Station Thanjavur on 19 Mar 24. Air Mshl B Manikantan AVSM VM, AOC-in-C SAC was present during the induction ceremony. Induction of the helicopter unit at Thanjavur would ensure availability of sufficient resources with HQ SAC to enhance operational capabilities as well as meet the peacetime tasks of Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Casualty evacuation.

The Southern Air Command (SAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, which is on the southwestern side of India. This is one among the seven commands of IAF. This command was started on 19 July 1984 and is relatively new among the other commands.