IAF committed to effectively engaging enemy: Chief Bhadauria

The Indian Air Force is undergoing a transformation, said Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on Thursday (October 8) and assured the nation that the force will be ever ready to safeguard India’s sovereignty and interests under all circumstances.

“We are entering an era which will redefine where we employ aerospace power and conduct integrated multi-domain operations,” he said on the 88^th IAF Day at the Hindon air base in Ghaziabad.

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Bhadauria said this year has been unprecedented. “As COVID-19 spread across the globe, our nation’s response has been firm. The tenacity and resolve of our air warriors ensured that IAF continued to retain its capability to undertake full-scale operations throughout this period,” he said.

“I commend all air warriors for quick response in the recent standoff on the northern frontiers when we deployed our combat assets at short notice to handle any eventuality and provided proactive support to all requirements of deployment and sustenance for the Indian Army,” he said.

“We have clearly demonstrated our resolve, our operational capability and the will to effectively engage the adversary should the need arise,” the IAF chief added.

Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a five-month bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh. The IAF has made significant deployment in the region to deal with any eventuality.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh attended the 88th Indian Air Force Day celebrations.

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Bhadauria inspected the IAF Day parade. Nishan Toli led by Squadron Leader Shivangi Rajawat marched on the occasion. Two Chinook helicopters and the recently acquired Rafale fighters also took part in the fly-past.

Earlier, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others extended their greetings to the IAF.