Ghaziabad: Since its inception in 1932, the IAF has evolved into an exceptional, capable, network-centric and multi-domain force that is alert and ready to meet any contingency, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Thursday.
In his address at the Air Force Day celebrations at the Hindan air base here,
the IAF chief also said conflicts in parts of the world have shown that air power is the primary means of protecting the national interest.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said the Indian Air Force (IAF) showed “speed of combat operations” with both its precision strike and air defence capabilities.
Air Force Day is observed on October 8 to commemorate the establishment of the force and the sacrifices made by air warriors.
The IAF chief also said “success in modern conflict demands deep synergy” and that joint planning and integrated combat application with the Army and Navy is a daily activity.
Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth and other senior military officials were also present at the event. Several former IAF chiefs were also in attendance.
Air Chief Marshal Singh credited the air warriors with lending strength to the IAF, and said the force is alert, committed and ready to meet any challenges.
“Our operational capabilities are growing in the right direction,” he said, adding that the force would leave no stone unturned to live up to expectations, rather exceed them.
The IAF chief said an air force can have the most advanced aircraft in the world, but its true strength is measured by its operational preparedness — “how quickly and confidently it can act whenever the call comes”.
He underlined that ‘Infallible, Impervious, Precise’ is not just a tagline, “it is the manifestation of our strength and resolve”.
He recalled the proud legacy of the IAF and urged it to remain an agile and combat-ready force.
“From four Wapiti aircraft, the force has evolved into an exceptional, capable, network-centric and multi-domain force ranked among the finest in the world,” he said.
According to the IAF website, the force’s initial “aircraft inventory consisted of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road as the ‘A’ Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron”.
Today, the IAF has 29 fighter squadrons.
On his superannuation on October 31, Air Chief Marshal Singh said serving as the IAF chief was “my biggest fortune” and it was a proud moment for him.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will be the next Chief of Air Staff.
The IAF marked the 94th anniversary of its establishment with a ceremonial parade, a static display of some of its prized combat assets such as Rafale and Tejas and a flypast by three Mi-17 helicopters. Aerial manoeuvres by a British-era Tiger Moth drew loud cheers from the audience.
Air Chief Marshal Singh arrived at the parade venue in a 1960s-era car, with the three helicopters in ‘Dhwaj’ formation flying past him.
The creamy white left hand-drive car carries the plate number “IAF 1”.
An IAF drum band made its parade debut, while ‘Team Shakti’, a group of women air warriors who performed skilful drills with rifles, also won the appreciation of the audience.
The IAF Drummers Team, comprising 33 young air warriors, presented a vibrant display featuring snare drums, roto drums, bass drums and cymbals, accompanied by dynamic formations and acrobatic movements, officials said.
The theme for this year’s Air Force Day was ‘Indian Air Force: Infallible, Impervious and Precise’, reflecting the IAF’s unwavering commitment to safeguard the nation’s skies with precision, resilience and operational excellence.
The IAF also put on display on the tarmac fighter jets such as Su-30 MKI, Jaguar; helicopters such as LCH Prachand and ALH Dhruv; and critical weapon and air defence systems such as BrahMos and Akash, Rohini radar system and a Dornier aircraft.
The parade was commanded by GpCapt Manish Sharma and was followed by an investiture ceremony, during which various air warriors were awarded medals for gallantry and distinguished service. Unit citations were also presented to various units for excellence.
Five unit citations were presented to 24 Squadron — ‘The Hawks’, 110 Helicopter Unit — ‘The Vanguards’, 200 Squadron — ‘Skanda’, 2402 Squadron — ‘Vajra’, and the Electronic Warfare Range, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Sqn No. 24 (The Hawks), which saw “considerable action” during the India-Pakistan War of 1965, also received a unit citation on Thursday, a senior official said.
The Hawks was raised at Air Force Station Chabua in Assam in 1962.
From Gnat to MiG-21, followed by Su-30K and ultimately Su-30MKI, it has reinvented itself with evolution of India’s air power, the officials said.
Following the celebrations at Hindan air base, the Air Force Day aerial display will be conducted at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, on October 25, officials said.
Reiterating the IAF’s commitment to technological advancement and self-reliance, the air chief marshal said, “Atmanirbharta is our guiding principle”, and emphasised that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, would be integrated while keeping human authority at the core.
Space is a natural extension of air domain, he said, and highlighted the growing collaboration with ISRO and domestic space industry, including the IAF’s role in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
