(L to R) Air chief marshal A P Singh, naval chief admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, army chief general Upendra Dwivedi and CDS general Anil Chauhan at the National War Memorial on the 93rd Indian Air Force Day, in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI: IAF’s “bold and precise” attacks on targets in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor showed the world how air power can be effectively used in shaping military outcomes in just a few days, air chief marshal A P Singh said on Wednesday.The deep precision strikes during the cross-border hostilities from May 7 to 10 also “restored the rightful place of offensive air action in the national consciousness”, ACM Singh said, reviewing the annual IAF Day parade at Hindon airbase.Chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan, in turn, said IAF had repeatedly demonstrated how air power could shape strategic outcomes, with the force reaffirming its ability to strike deep inside enemy territory with precision during Operation Sindoor.At the parade, the IAF chief presented 97 medals to air warriors and six unit citations, including to Rafale, Sukhoi-30MKI and S-400 squadrons, for their exemplary performance during Operation Sindoor.He called upon air warriors to “remain prepared” for future security challenges, emphasising that the force’s planning must be “innovative, practical and adaptive” while its training must be based on the principle of “train like we fight”.Describing Operation Sindoor as “a shining example” of what can be achieved through “meticulous planning, disciplined training and determined execution”, ACM Singh said, “Our robust air defence architecture and offensive employment of long-range surface-to-air missile systems limited the adversary’s ability to operate and ensured safety of our vital assets.”“The outstanding performance of the indigenously developed and integrated weapons, which delivered precise and devastating blows deep inside enemy territory, vindicates our faith in home-grown capabilities,” he added.Noting how the air warriors have “created history in every era”, from the 1948, 1971 and 1999 wars to the destruction of the Jaish-e-Muhammed facility at Balakot in Feb 2019 and Operation Sindoor, he said, “We are not only the protectors of the skies, but also the guardians of the nation’s honour.”ACM Singh also said there has been “an increased culture of accountability, safety and security” in the force, which is “directly reflecting in our reduced incidents and accidents”.He also praised IAF’s role in Operation Sindhu, which was carried out in June to evacuate Indians from conflict zones in Iran and Israel.
