Nine IAF officers, including fighter pilots who struck terrorist group headquarters in Muridke and Bahawalpur and Pakistani military assets in Operation Sindoor, have been awarded the Vir Chakra. Vir Chakra is India's third-highest wartime gallantry medal. The awardees include Group Captains Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni and Kunal Kalra.