PRAYAGRAJ: Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Sunday that the Indian Air Force must be ever vigilant in the face of “new and emerging threats” even as he reaffirmed that the IAF will continue to defend the nation’s territory and deter potential adversaries. His remarks came amid the eastern Ladakh border dispute. The Chief of Air Staff stated that in the current complicated and dynamic strategic environment, fine-tuning the IAF’s strategy, establishing strong capabilities, and cultivating a flexible mindset to “prosecute future wars” will be crucial. He stated that integrated combat power application and joint planning will be the “sine-qua-non” of future wars in a speech to airmen on the occasion of Air Force Day. He also added that “we must reform, or become a relic; we must innovate, or else become mundane, and we must transform, or else become irrelevant.” To emphasise the significance of air power in the shifting global security landscape, he stated, “If India is on the path to becoming a developed nation by 2047, then the IAF must be one of the best, if not the best, by the time we complete 100 years in 2032.” On October 8, 1932, the Indian Air Force was formally created. The head of the IAF stated, “We need to understand the nuances of evolving air power, setting the pace to preserve peace and if and when necessary, to fight and win wars.” “Mainly, I want to encourage you to aim for excellence in whatever you do. This cannot be discussed,” he insisted. The Air Chief Marshal argued in favour of “honestly” evaluating the IAF and addressing any resistance to change.“The force structure we must create must be prepared for the future. The conditional sine qua non of future battles will be joint planning and integrated application of military power, he predicted. Without going into specifics, the IAF Chief claimed that during the previous year, the force not only “circumvented” obstacles, but also turned them into opportunities. He added that the current geopolitical environment has given the force a chance to lessen its reliance on imports by developing indigenous capability. “In this complex and dynamic strategic environment, refining our strategy, building robust all round capabilities and more importantly, developing a flexible mindset to prosecute future wars will prove decisive,” he stated.“In our quest for becoming an air and space force, we must recognise the importance of the space domain and continue developing our space capabilities,” he stated. In addition, the Air Chief Marshal emphasised the necessity for the IAF to develop into a “agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive aerospace power in furtherance of our national interests.” “The world is evolving quickly, and we must take on all upcoming difficulties. In order to combat new dangers, we must maintain a culture of discipline and integrity while also being always alert. “Our commitment to the defence of our nation remains steadfast and we will continue to protect our territory, deter potential adversaries and ensure the safety and security of our people.” The IAF, according to Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari, is more than just a military organisation; it also serves as a representation of India’s unity and willpower. “The past year had presented us with a fair share of difficulties. I am pleased to report that the IAF has performed remarkably well and has aced every exam, he remarked. The Air Chief Marshal spoke of the IAF’s vision as stated in its doctrine, which is to be “an agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive aerospace power in furtherance of our national interests.”“The air force must understand that modern warfare exceeds conventional lines, from multi-domain operations to hybrid warfare. To control the combat space, we must seamlessly combine our air, space, cyber, and ground capabilities, he said. “We need to ask ourselves, “What more can I do? “ Do not confine yourself to the demands of the present. You will see that there is a lot more to be done if you look beyond today, he remarked. According to the IAF Chief, innovation must become ingrained in the IAF’s DNA so that it can quickly respond to new threats and difficulties. “We must honestly evaluate ourselves and deal with any resistance to change. We must create a force structure that is prepared for the future. Future battles will be unwinnable without coordinated preparation and the employment of military strength, he said. “Developing unique tactics, carrying out realistic training and incorporating relevant lessons learnt will go a long way,” he stated. The Chief of Air Staff commented on Angiveers, stating that “We have successfully admitted the first batch of Agniveers and subsequent batches, including women Agniveers, are currently undergoing basic training. He highlighted that all training curricula have seen an overall improvement in training rigour with a stronger focus on self-learning and self-education. He described the exercises the IAF had participated in, saying, “In this year alone, the IAF has participated in eight exercises with friendly foreign countries across the globe and performed incredibly well. The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted substantial operations in Syria, Sudan, and Turkey, airlifting vital supplies and rescuing stranded Indian citizens. As first responders, we’ve always been on high alert and dealt with any emergency scenarios that arose, he said. Prayagraj hosted the Air Force Day parade. Up until 2021, the parade was customarily held at the Hindon airbase outside of Delhi. After that, the event was moved elsewhere. Last year, it took place in Chandigarh.
