The Folland Gnat was an exceptionally small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft originally developed for the Royal Air Force, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force. It was designed by W. E. W. Petter (formerly of Westland Aircraft and English Electric) and first flew in 1955. Its design was such that it could be built without specialized tools, hence by countries that were not necessarily highly industrialized. Although never used as a fighter by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the "Gnat T.1" trainer variant was widely used, and as the mount for the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic team, the Gnat became a national icon.
The Gnat also achieved export success, particularly with India, the largest foreign operator who manufactured the aircraft under license. India then developed the "Ajeet", a modified and improved variant.
Serving primarily with the Indian Air Force, the Gnat is credited by many independent and Indian sources to have shot down seven Pakistani Canadair Sabres (licence built F-86s) in the 1965 war. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claims only three Gnat victories over F-86s in air to air combat, while two Gnats were downed by PAF fighters. During the initial phase of the 1965 War, an IAF Gnat, piloted by Squadron Leader Brij Pal Singh Sikand, landed at an abandoned Pakistani airstrip at Pasrur and was captured by the PAF who first claimed that two Pakistani F-104 Starfighters forced the Gnat down;[7] however, the Indians claimed the pilot landed by mistake.[8][9] This Gnat is displayed as a war trophy in the Pakistan Air Force Museum, Karachi. After the ceasefire, one Pakistani Cessna O-1 was shot down on 16 December 1965 by a Gnat