Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment or TACDE is an Indian Air Force unit for training aerial combat to its top one percent fighter pilots.
TACDE was founded by Wing Commander A. K. Mukherjee alongside Squadron Leader R S Chib.
[2][3] It was established in 1971 from previously formed Tactics and Combat Development and Training Squadron at Adampur, Punjab.
TACDE was awarded ‘Battle Honours’ by the President of India in 1995 for its role in the Indo-Pak conflict of 1971.
The Mirage-2000H pilot, Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi, was unable to eject and died in the accident, whilst the two other pilots, flying the Su-30MKI, ejected and were hospitalized with minor injuries.